The New Zealand Rugby Union's (NZRU) belt will be tightened further in 2010, with losses forecast for the next three financial terms.

Chief executive Steve Tew said more "pain" would infiltrate elements of the NZ game but he wouldn't specify details until affected parties were told.

The NZRU board on Wednesday opted for a "conservative" approach to its 2010 budgeting, which Tew said "involves some further reduction in activity and organisation".

"There is pain involved and we want to have that conversation with people directly," he said.

The budget for national teams was reduced considerably this year, with no games organised for the New Zealand Maori side while there was an impact on the Black Ferns national women's team, age grade and development programs and the provincial B competition.

Other areas suffered to save money, notably the removal of television match officials from the provincial Air NZ Cup.

"We have budgeted a deficit for 2010 but, to get to a deficit we're comfortable with, we're looking at some further activity cuts," Tew explained.

"We're likely to have a deficit for 2011 as well, with a considerable improvement in 2012, 13 and 14 considering our contracted revenues change considerably."

Meanwhile, the board won't budge on its decision to reduce the national provincial championship from 14 to 10 teams next year, despite tabling petitions from two of the provinces most in danger of demotion.