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GOVERNMENT NEWS ARCHIVE 2008
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

News Archive:

2007

 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Past appointments

 

January

January 17
ACTING CE AND SECRETARY FOR MFE ANNOUNCED

The Deputy State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, today announced that Howard Fancy has agreed to act as Chief Executive and Secretary for the Environment.

Howard Fancy was the Secretary for Education and Chief Executive, Ministry of Education from 1996 to 2006 and was previously the Secretary for Commerce and Chief Executive, Ministry of Commerce.

"Howard is a very experienced chief executive and will provide the necessary leadership and stability at the Ministry for the Environment while we recruit a new chief executive," Iain Rennie said.

Howard Fancy will take up the position on 11 February 2008 and will remain in the role until a new chief executive is appointed. Lindsay Gow, currently the Deputy Chief Executive, will be the Acting Chief Executive for the period 2-10 February.

24 January
LINZ ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE

The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, today announced that Kevin Kelly has agreed to act as Chief Executive for Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).

Kevin Kelly is currently the General Manager Policy at LINZ, a position he has held since 2003.

Mr Kelly, who was admitted to the Bar at the High Court of New Zealand in 1989, was previously the Manager for Legal Services at LINZ. He has also held management positions at the Ministry of Economic Development and at the State Services Commission.

Former Chief Executive Brendan Boyle has taken up the role of Chief Executive, Secretary for Internal Affairs. Mr Kelly will commence as Acting Chief Executive LINZ on 4 February 2008 and will remain in the role until a new chief executive is appointed.

 

January 25
STATE SEVICES COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Mark Prebble, the State Services Commissioner, said today that he intends to step down from the job in the middle of this year.

The State Service Commissioner's appointment has a 5 year term, and Mark Prebble's term formally ends in mid-2009. His planned last day of work is now 30 June 2008. The notice period allows time for a new Commissioner to be selected well before the election period and for a lengthy overlap and transition before taking up the role.

"I have completed over 30 years of work in the Public Service, nearly half that time as a senior manager in The Treasury, The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the State Services Commission. It has been a great privilege to be entrusted with these roles, but it is now time for me to move on," Mark Prebble said.

Under the law the State Services Commissioner is appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. As has happened with previous appointments of State Services Commissioners the appointment process will be handled by the Minister of State Services. The position will be publicly advertised in the next few weeks.

 

 

February

February 12
DONNELLY RESIGNS FROM PARLIAMENT

New Zealand First MP Brian Donnelly has resigned to become High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.  He takes up the role at the end of the month, replacing John Bryan. 

Mr Donnelly worked in the Cook Islands in the1970s, and has two adopted Cook Islands children.

New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has not said who will replace Mr Donnelly as MP, but there has been speculation that the two NZ First candidates next on the party list will make way for the party president and former MP Dail Jones.

February 13
KATHERINE RICH TO STAND DOWN AT ELECTION

Katherine Rich today announced that she was standing down from Parliament at the next election.

“Over the summer I had a chance to think about the future for my children and my family and concluded that it's time to move on to face new challenges.

"The Party is in good heart. I have no doubt that National will win the election and John Key will be New Zealand's next Prime Minister.

“Being a Minister in John Key's cabinet would have been a huge privilege and honour for me.

"I do not doubt my ability to fill such a role. However, after much thought, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that with two young children I would not have been able to do justice to it without unfairly impacting upon their lives.

"It has been an honour representing the National Party in Parliament these past nine years.

National Party Leader John Key today wished Katherine Rich well following her announcement. “I greatly regret losing such a talented member of the National Party Caucus.

“Although she will stay on until the election, Katherine is a big loss. Given her talents, I hope that she will contribute in some way to public life in the future.

“The education portfolio will be taken over by Anne Tolley, who will move to 10th spot on the front bench from 16th and relinquish her role as Chief Whip. She will retain her Associate Welfare (CYFS) portfolio.

“Associate Education Spokesman Allan Peachey, a former Principal of Rangitoto College, will be promoted to Deputy Education Spokesman.

“Caucus this morning confirmed Nathan Guy as the new Chief Whip, and Chris Tremain as the new Junior Whip.”

February 18
DAIL JONES NEW NZ FIRST MP

New Zealand First President and former MP Dail Jones has replaced Brian Donnelly as an New Zealand First list MP.  In a widely expected move, two candidates ahead of Mr Jones  on the party list -- Jim Peters and Susan Baragwanath -- stood aside.

Brian Donnelly resigned from Parliament last week to take up the post of High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.

19 February
ANN HARTLEY LEAVES PARLIAMENT

Labour List MP Ann Hartley is retiring and will be replaced in Parliament by former Silver Fern netballer Louisa Wall.

Ms Hartley has been an MP since 1999. She was elected to North Shore City Council last October. While at Parliament, she has been an assistant speaker. Ms Hartley announced last October she would retire after the summer recess.

Ms Wall will be sworn in as a MP on March 4.

22 February
SPEAKER TO GO

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Margaret Wilson MP, has announced that she will not seek a position on the Labour List for the next election.

She will continue in the position of Speaker until the next election.

Ms Wilson said today she had always said she would consider her future over Christmas and New Year and announce her decision before nominations for the Labour List closed at the end of February.

‘There is no one reason for my decision,’ she said. ‘It just seems the right time to move on and explore opportunities to return to academic research and teaching.

‘It has been a privilege to serve in Parliament as a Minister and as Speaker. I am very appreciative of being given that opportunity.’

25 February
GOSCHE PUTS NAME FORWARD AS LIST MP

Labour MP Mark Gosche has announced that he would not seek the nomination for his Maungakiekie seat again but would put his name forward for Labour’s list.

Mr Gosche entered Parliament in 1996, has been the MP for Maungakiekie for eight years and was a Cabinet minister for three years.

He said his decision was based on the need for greater flexibility because of his personal circumstances. Gosche has been beset by personal tragedies, and quit his portfolios in 2003 to care for his wife, Carol, after she suffered a severe brain haemorrhage. Late last year his son died suddenly.

Others Labour MPs who have already announced their departure are Steve Maharey, Paul Swain, Marian Hobbs, Tim Barnett, Jill Pettis, Dover Samuels and Dianne Yates while Ann Hartley left last week.

Also last week, the Speaker Margaret Wilson announced she would retire from Parliament at the election.

And former minister David Benson-Pope failed to win the nomination for his Dunedin South seat.

27 February
DHB BOARD SACKED

Health Minister David Cunliffe has sacked the Hawke's Bay District Health Board and appointed a commissioner.

He said information sent in a submission from the Board confirms the organisation has deep divisions and did not reassure him it had a clear plan for resolving them.

He said he had been forced to act to end an unsustainable situation.

The commissioner will be Sir John Anderson, the current chair of Capital and Coast DHB.

 
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March

March 19
TRANSPORT MINISTRY CEO RESIGNS

The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, has announced that Alan Thompson, Chief Executive and Secretary for Transport has resigned.

Alan Thompson has resigned to take up the position of Secretary, Department of Parliamentary Services for the Australian Parliament in Canberra.

"In the three and a half years that Alan Thompson has been in New Zealand he has made a significant contribution to the transport sector," Mark Prebble said.

"As Secretary of Transport, he has led a major change process for the Land Transport sector in New Zealand, as well as strengthening the policy capability of the Ministry.  He has also overseen the development of an updated Transport Strategy for the country. This strategy is now nearing completion.

"Alan Thompson will leave the Ministry of Transport in mid May. I'm sorry to see him go and wish him well in his new job," Mark Prebble said.

The process of identifying a successor to lead the Ministry of Transport will begin shortly.

March 6
ESTABLISHMENT BOARD FOR TRANSPORT AGENCY ANNOUNCED

Former Auckland Regional Transport Authority chair Brian Roche will chair the Establishment Board for the New Zealand Transport Agency, Transport Minister Annette King has announced.

Ms King said that Land Transport New Zealand and Transit New Zealand will merge to become the New Zealand Transport Agency, and will commence operating from 1 July 2008.

“The appointees collectively bring expertise in governance (particularly in relation to Land Transport New Zealand and Transit New Zealand), the establishment of major organisations, finance, technical engineering, an understanding of local government and an appreciation of the Government’s goals for the transport sector,” she said.

See the 'Recent Appointments' column to the left for other appointed board members.

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April

28 APRIL
NEW STATE SERVICES COMMISSIONER NAMED

State Services Minister David Parker has announced the appointment of Iain Rennie to the position of State Services Commissioner.

“Mr Rennie was recommended for appointment unanimously by a panel which comprised Rt Hon Jim Bolger, Dame Margaret Bazley, Hon Stan Rodger and myself,” David Parker said.

Mr Rennie is currently the Deputy State Services Commissioner, a position he has held since February 2007. He has also held positions at the Treasury, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and in the State Services Commission. He will succeed Mark Prebble when he steps down from the role in June.

Mr Rennie will take up his appointment on 1 July 2008.

9 April
MERIDIAN CEO NAMED

Meridian Energy board member Tim Lusk has been announced as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Keith Turner who stepped down at the end of March.

Announcing the appointment today, Meridian chairman Wayne Boyd said Mr Lusk brings a wealth of valuable commercial experience to the role, as well as wide knowledge of the electricity sector.

Mr Boyd says the appointment process has been thorough and robust, and the board is delighted to have been able to appoint someone of Tim Lusk’s calibre.

Mr Boyd says Mr Lusk has resigned from the Meridian board, and it is expected he will take up his new role as chief executive in mid-May.

9 April
NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT AGENCY CE ANNOUNCED

The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, has welcomed the announcement of the appointment of Geoff Dangerfield as chief executive designate of the New Zealand Transport Agency, the single statutory Crown entity that is to be formed by the merger of Transit New Zealand and Land Transport New Zealand.

Mr Dangerfield is currently the chief executive of the Ministry of Economic Development, a role he has held since 2001. Previously, he has held senior roles at the Treasury and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Mr Dangerfield is expected to take up the position when the new transport agency is formally established on 1 July 2008.

The process of identifying a successor to lead the Ministry of Economic Development will begin shortly.

April 1
NEW LABOUR PARTY LIST MP

Su'a William Sio, the Deputy Mayor of Manukau City, has replaced retiring MP Dianne Yates as a Labour list Member of Parliament.

The 47-year-old, who was born in Samoa, will also stand against former Labour and now independent MP Taito Phillip Field in the Mangere electorate in the general election later this year.

Su'a Sio was sworn into Parliament today.


May

13 May
LINZ CHIEF EXECUTIVE NAMED

The Deputy State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, has announced the appointment of Colin MacDonald to the position of Chief Executive of Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).

Mr MacDonald is currently the Deputy Commissioner, Business Development and Systems at Inland Revenue Department. Prior to this he acted in the position of Chief Executive of the Inland Revenue Department, and has been the Chief Operating Officer for the ANZ Banking Group (New Zealand) Limited. On migrating to New Zealand in 1994, Mr MacDonald joined KPMG holding the positions of Senior Consultant and Associate Director. Prior to this, he held a number of technology-related roles in the UK within the legal profession, the oil industry and the retail sector.

Mr MacDonald completed a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the University of Glasgow in 1980. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the British Computer Society.

Mr MacDonald takes up his appointment on 1 July 2008.

13 May
DEPUTY SECRETARY RESIGNS

The resignation of the Deputy Secretary Workforce, Mary Anne Thompson, has been announced by the Chief Executive of the Department of Labour, Christopher Blake.

"In the interests of the Department and the wider public service, Ms Thompson has decided to resign from her position as Deputy Secretary Workforce", Mr Blake said.

"Under the circumstances, I will not require Ms Thompson to work out her notice period. Ms Thompson's last day was Monday 12 May 2008, and she will receive her legal entitlements under her contract.

"In the interim, the Department's Deputy Secretary Legal, Graeme Buchanan has been appointed Acting Deputy Secretary Workforce," Mr Blake said.

12 May
GREENS LIST ANNOUNCED

The Green Party has released its party list for the 2008 election.

“We are enormously proud to present our list for the 2008 election” says Jeanette Fitzsimons and Russel Norman, Green Co-Leaders.

“The Green list combines experience and passion. Five of the current Green MPs are standing again, well supported by a talented group of new candidates.

Five of the current six MPs are standing again. Nandor Tanczos has previously announced that he will not be standing again this year.

The newcomers to the top 12 include Russel Norman (2), Green Co-leader, elected after the death of Rod Donald. We also have Kevin Hague (7), Catherine Delahunty (8), Kennedy Graham (9), David Clendon (10), Gareth Hughes (11) and Steffan Browning (12).

There may be additions to the list. More information on the candidates can be found on the Green website.
The full Green list can be found here.