Frontline staff in the public service are challenging the Government's claim that extra resources are coming their way.
State Services Minister Tony Ryall says a cut of 3.8% in core staff in 2009 is helping to free up funds to bolster frontline services.
Many health providers say cuts to backroom staff simply put more pressure on those in the frontline, as nurses and doctors are forced to do clerical work.
The Nurses Organisation says tighter budgets are cutting into cover for holidays and staff sickness.
Chief executive Geoff Annals told Morning Report the rationale that backroom or low-visibility public servant jobs are less important will lead to mindless cost-cutting.
He accepts the need to minimise administration costs but says there has been no consultation with staff about how cuts affect patient services.
The Public Service Association says there have been significant job losses at Biosecurity New Zealand, the Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Conservation.
It says the term frontline is hard to define, but should include those who protect New Zealand's borders, police its fisheries and run the conservation estate.
Mr Ryall denies frontline public servants are being caught up in administration work as jobs are cut.
He says there is an annual turnover in state services of between 2000 and 3000 staff, so some workers are still being replaced when they leave.
Mr Ryall says many vacant positions are not being advertised, so that ministries can live within their budgets.
The minister has said that in the past year there has been an increase of 540 fulltime jobs in key agencies such as Child, Youth and Family, Work and Income and Community Probation and Psychological Services.
