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GOVERNMENT NEWS ARCHIVE 2008 |
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February |
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February 12 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 today announced that she was standing down from Parliament at the next election. February 18 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 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 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. 25 February 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. 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. 27 February - to top - |
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March 19 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
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28 APRIL 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 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 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 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. - to top - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
13 May 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 The resignation of the Deputy Secretary Workforce, Mary Anne Thompson, has been announced by the Chief Executive of the Department of Labour, Christopher Blake. 12 May The Green Party has released its party list for the 2008 election. There may be additions to the list. More information on the candidates can be found on the Green website. - to top -
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June | ||||||||||||||||||||||
30 June David Smol is the Deputy Secretary, Energy and Communications Branch at the Ministry of Economic Development, a position he has held since 2003. He has been the Acting Chief Executive at the Ministry since 3 June of this year. "Mr Smol has demonstrated the leadership that this position requires, particularly with his roles in changes to the regulation of the electricity sector, including the establishment of the Electricity Commission and the reform of telecommunications regulation, including loop unbundling and the operational separation of Telecom. He has built effective and positive relationships with Ministers and stakeholders over time and has a strong reputation as a trusted, credible and highly competent public servant," Mark Prebble said. Mr Smol is qualified with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from Warwick University (UK) and a Master in Philosophy (Economics) from Cambridge University (UK). He completed his professional examinations through the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK). David Smol takes up his appointment on 1 July 2008. 30 June The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, has announced the appointment of Martin Matthews to the position of Chief Executive and Secretary for Transport, Ministry of Transport. Mr Matthews is currently the Chief Executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, a position he has held since September 2000. He was appointed Acting Chief Executive for MCH in July 1998. "Mr Matthews has 10 years' experience as a Chief Executive and has built and maintained a well performing Ministry. He has extensive experience in monitoring and working with Crown entities and has successfully managed sensitive issues and high profile initiatives. He is currently responsible for overseeing the funding and accountability for 18 Crown entities, Crown Companies and Non Governmental Organisations, and he is responsible to five Ministers. Mr Matthews has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics and is a Chartered Accountant. He takes up his appointment on 29 September 2008. 27 June The chief electoral officer today declared Dr Norman from Wellington elected to Parliament from the Green Party list. Dr Norman replaces Nandor Tanczos, who gave his valedictory speech to Parliament yesterday. Mr Tanczos was a list MP, and initially intended to quit politics at the election later this year. He left early so Dr Norman could become an MP ahead of the election campaign. Dr Norman is due to be sworn in on Tuesday. 11 June Rick Christie has announced that after two three-year terms as AgResearch Chairman he would step down from the role on June 30 to tackle his increased workload elsewhere. 5 June The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, has announced the appointment of Dr Paul Reynolds to the position of Chief Executive and Secretary for the Environment, Ministry for the Environment. Dr Reynolds is currently the Deputy Director General (Policy) at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, a position he has held since 2002. "Dr Reynolds' leadership, policy development, and management experience, together with his intellectual capability and personal qualities, will assist him to successfully lead the Ministry through its complex work programme. "His work at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry developing strategies for major initiatives such as water allocation and quality policy and the proposed climate change Emissions Trading Scheme, together with his sound grasp of environmental and sustainability issues, means Dr Reynolds has a very good understanding of the sector and the issues that the Ministry for the Environment faces" Mark Prebble said. Prior to taking up his current role, Dr Reynolds spent four years as the Chief Policy Adviser in the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. From 1992 to 1998 he was the Science Manager, Immunomolecular Plant Biology, at the Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand. Prior to this, Dr Reynolds was the Section Leader, Immunology and Plant Molecular Biology at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), where he commenced his career in the Public Service in 1985 as a Scientist. Dr Reynolds takes up his appointment on 21 July 2008. 3 June Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has confirmed that talks had been held with Mike Ward to allow Green co-leader Russel Norman to take a seat in Parliament this month and Nandor Tanczos to retire from parliament early. "I have just got hold of Mike and yes, he has offered to step aside for Russel to come in," Ms Fitzsimons said. "Nandor and the party have agreed that is a good thing to do and Russel will accept." She expected the changeover to happen soon after Parliament resumed on June 17 - to top -
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July | ||||||||||||||||||||||
22 July Improvements for Auckland and Wellington commuter services and a major overhaul of the Tranz Scenic service are part of a five year, $80.2 million investment in rail infrastructure announced by Finance Minister Michael Cullen today. New Zealand's rail operation was passed back into the ownership of the New Zealand public on 1 July and re-launched as KiwiRail. "This $80 million investment is our first step. In the next few weeks I will present a paper to Cabinet proposing to expand the role of rail in our economy and the investment necessary to make that happen." It also includes:
1 July Mark Prebble's successor, Iain Rennie, begins his new job today as State Services Commissioner. Mr Rennie was named as the new Commissioner in April after being unanimously recommended by a panel which comprised Rt Hon Jim Bolger, Dame Margaret Bazley, Hon Stan Rodger and State Services Minister David Parker. - to top - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
August | ||||||||||||||||||||||
26 August Ms Dalley is currently a Deputy Chief Executive and the Chief Historian at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, a position she has held since 2002. Ms Dalley has degrees from Massey University and a PhD in History from the University of Otago. She joined the Public Service as an historian in 1993, and became Chief Historian in 2002. She was appointed Deputy Chief Executive in the Ministry for Culture and Heritage in 2007. Ms Dalley has also authored a number of books on New Zealand history. Bronwyn Dalley will take up the role on 1 September 2008. The State Services Commission will begin the recruitment process for a permanent chief executive later this year. - to top - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
September | ||||||||||||||||||||||
25 September NZ First leader, Winston Peters has told Parliament that former NZ First MP Brian Donnelly died this afternoon. Mr Donnelly, who was forced to quit his post as high commissioner to the Cook Islands because of ill health, passed away at 2.20pm. Mr Donnelly was a NZ First MP for nine years and a minister in the 1996-98 coalition with National before he was given the Rarotonga post in February. His appointment by Foreign Affairs Minister and NZ First leader Winston Peters was controversial, but defended on the grounds of his ties to the Cooks. Mr Donnelly had not publicly confirmed the nature of his illness. 24 September 2008 Two of New Zealand’s Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) have been granted shareholder approval to merge, Minister of Research, Science and Technology Pete Hodgson has announced. HortResearch and Crop & Food Research will merge on 1 December 2008 into a new CRI. The Boards of the two companies initiated the merger to create a critical mass based on the combined strength in plant-based food research capabilities that are currently segregated in the two companies. There are no proposed closures of sites, although Crop & Food Research and HortResearch staff members in some areas may be brought together in the same location. Jim McLean, current chair of HortResearch has been appointed as chair. A name for the new CRI will be announced before 1 December 2008. 15 September New Zealand’s next ambassador to Timor-Leste will be career diplomat Tim McIvor, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today. "Dili is an important post for New Zealand. Since 1999, we have worked closely with the Timorese, the UN, and with other governments to help bring peace and development to Timor-Leste, " Helen Clark said. Tim McIvor is currently head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Asia Regional Unit. Previously he was New Zealand Deputy Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York. He has also served in Manila and Moscow. Tim McIvor will begin his assignment in mid-December, taking over from Ruth Nuttall who is returning to Wellington. - to top -
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October | ||||||||||||||||||||||
6 October The 48th Parliament was brought to an end at 3pm on Friday 3 October 2008, when a proclamation was read on the steps of Parliament House. This was the first step towards the holding of the general election on Saturday 8 November 2008. The proclamation was read out by Mr Phillip O’Shea CNZM, LVO, New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary to The Queen, as the authorised representative of The Governor-General, His Excellency The Honourable Anand Satyanand, PCNZM, QSO. The Governor-General has also issued a proclamation summoning Parliament. This practice recognises the Crown’s intention to preserve the continuity of Parliament. The new Parliament must be called within six weeks of the return of the writ (final election results). The next step will be for the Governor-General to issue a writ to the Chief Electoral Officer directing him to conduct a general election of members of the House of Representatives. The writ will specify the latest day for the nomination of candidates, polling day, and the latest day for the return of the writ with the name of elected constituency candidates. Further information is available from www.elections.org 1 October From today, KiwiRail, which provides the rolling stock, and Ontrack, which maintains the rail infrastructure, will both operate under the banner of the New Zealand Railways corporation. The Government has announced an additional $121 million of funding for an upgrade of the rail network. Finance Minister Michael Cullen said the money is in addition to $80 million announced in July for an overhaul of the Tranzscenic services. In brief:
Dr Cullen said the $121 million is for the current financial year and is the first stage of a five year programme. The Government has spent just over $2 billion on rail which includes the initial $200 million the Government committed to network improvements when it re-purchased the rail infrastructure, the $1 billion committed to upgrading and electrifying the Auckland suburban network, the $500 million committed to upgrading and re-equipping the Wellington urban network and the $80 million of initial funding to KiwiRail to maintain rolling stock. - to top - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
November | ||||||||||||||||||||||
22 November The Chief Electoral Officer has declared the official results for the 2008 General Election.
For more detail visit www.electionresults.govt.nz 20 November Labour Party Leader Phil Goff has announced Labour's shadow Cabinet and spokesperson allocation. "Labour's line up has a strong mix of experienced MPs including many who have a track record and proven competency as Ministers, together with fresh, talented newcomers. "With a caucus of 43, we have a strong talent pool to draw from. Our 13 new MPs represent diverse backgrounds, and are the best qualified and strongest intake into the Labour caucus since 1984. They are an able and competent group who will grow with experience and will be ready to make a big contribution to an incoming sixth Labour Government in 2011. "As I announced last week, David Cunliffe is finance spokesperson and Darren Hughes and Steve Chadwick are the Senior and Junior Opposition Whips respectively. "Deputy leader Annette King will also be Labour's social development spokesperson. Parekura Horomia is Maori affairs spokesperson, and Chris Carter education. "The front bench has five newcomers in Ruth Dyson (health), Clayton Cosgrove (law and order, SoEs), Nanaia Mahuta (environment and tourism), Maryan Street (trade and tertiary education), and Darren Hughes (transport). "Newer and younger members of Caucus such as Darren Hughes, Charles Chauvel and Moana Mackey have been promoted into the shadow cabinet, together with Winnie Laban and Sue Moroney. "Helen Clark (foreign affairs and arts, culture and heritage) and Michael Cullen (Shadow Leader of the House and Treaty of Waitangi negotiations) will provide guidance and expertise to our Caucus. I am delighted that they and other former senior ministers will be available to help newer MPs develop the skills they need to be an effective Opposition. "Jim Anderton who has worked seamlessly with Labour over nine years in Government has agreed to continue formal cooperation with Labour and will be agriculture spokesperson. For a full list of Labour spokespeople click here. 17 November 17 November Following John Key's announcement and report to the Governor General that he had the numbers to form a National-led Government yesterday, comes the new Cabinet line-up. For a full Cabinet list click here 11 November Phil Goff has been confirmed as the new Labour leader to replace Helen Clark. The unanimous decision was announced this afternoon following a meeting of the Labour caucus at the Beehive. Annette King has been elected as deputy leader while David Cunliffe will be finance spokesman. Outgoing Prime Minister Helen Clark has been named as foreign affairs spokeswoman. Mr Goff said Labour would be a strong and effective Opposition. "In Government Labour succeeded because it had a united, disciplined and motivated parliamentary and ministerial team," Mr Goff said. "The outcome of today's caucus demonstrates that Labour will be a strong, united and determined Opposition." He said Labour's 13 new MPs gave it new experience and fresh talent. Helen Clark spoke in public today for the first time since her resignation speech on Saturday night. She said she was confident she had made the right decision for the party and herself. She also pledged to give "complete and unconditional" support to the new leader. 9 November National's John Key will be New Zealand's next Prime Minister after a solid defeat of Labour on election day. National ended the count with 59 seats, with 43 to Labour, eight to the Geens (the only minor party to get over the 5% threshold), five each to Act and the Maori Party with one to United Future's Peter Dunne in Ohariu-Belmont, and one to Jim Anderton in Wigram. There were a couple of suprising upsets with National claiming the Labour stronghold of West Coast-Tasman, as well as wrestling Maungakiekie from Labours grip. Other seats lost to National included Auckland Central, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Taupo. As counting of votes progressed it became evident that Winston Peters and other NZ First candidates were out of the running in both electorate and Party votes, and did not make the threshold to return to Parliament. The other suprising news of the evening was during Helen Clark's concession speech, when she announced she would be stepping down as Leader of the Labour Party. “I have one final thing to say and that is that my job as leader of the Labour Party is complete. - to top - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
December
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8 December Ceremonies today and tomorrow begin the formal State opening of the 49th Parliament of New Zealand. The official ceremony to commission the opening begins at 2pm today when the Governor-General sends Commissioners (usually senior Judges) to the House to declare Parliament open on his behalf. The Clerk of the House will then read the document from the Governor-General that authorises the Commissioners to act for the Governor-General. The Commissioners will then declare Parliament open and leave the Chamber. Following this is the swearing in of the members. By law, no member may sit or vote in the House before taking the Oath of Allegiance or making an Affirmation of Allegiance to the Crown. The Clerk of the House is authorised by the Governor-General to administer the oath or the affirmation to members on the opening day. Once members have been sworn in, they must elect the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker-Elect will march in a procession led by the Serjeant-at-Arms and followed by the Clerk of the House and the Deputy Clerk. At this time the Serjeant-at-Arms carries the Mace (the symbol of the House) in the crook of his arm to demonstrate that the Speaker has not yet been confirmed in office. When the Governor-General enters, the Speaker-Elect will present himself or herself to the Governor-General and ask for His Excellency’s confirmation as Speaker. When His Excellency confirms the House’s choice as Speaker, the Serjeant-at-Arms will raise the Mace to his shoulder, as, from that moment on the Speaker is fully in office. Tomorrow the Governor-General will go to Parliament himself and take his seat on the Throne. He will then send a messenger, known as Black Rod (so called because of the staff which he carries) to the House to summon members to the Council Chamber. On reaching the House’s Chamber, the door is shut so that Black Rod must knock on the Chamber door. When he has been admitted he gives the House His Excellency’s message and the House, led by the Serjeant-at-Arms (with the Mace) and the Speaker, march in procession to the Council Chamber. When the members have assembled in the Council Chamber, the Governor-General informs them of the Government’s reasons for calling Parliament to meet at this time. This is known as the Speech from the Throne. The Speech is a statement of the issues that the Government wishes members to consider. It usually contains a reference to important bills that the Government intends to introduce. At the conclusion of the Speech, His Excellency presents a copy of it to the Speaker and departs. When the Vice-Regal party has left, the members follow the Speaker back to their Chamber in procession to carry on with their business. 23 December 2008 - to top - |
