New Zealand Press Association (NZPA), the country's national news agency, is cutting seven full-time jobs to reduce costs, The New Zealand Herald reported Tuesday.

Lincoln Gould, the chief executive of NZPA, said that the organization's shareholders, New Zealand's major newspaper publishers, want the costs down but with efficiency boosted.

Its international wire services will be rationalised as well, according to Gould.

NZPA offers news, images along with other services to dailies and Sunday papers, as well as television, radio and Internet, according to The New Zealand Herald.

The cut lowers staff numbers to 48.

In the next two weeks discussions with all staff will continue before final decisions are made, Gould said.