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GOVERNMENT NEWS ARCHIVE 2009 |
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February |
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23 February 2009 Jeanette Fitzsimons will step down from the Green Party co-leadership in June and leave Parliament at the next election. Ms Fitzsimons was elected to the co-leadership along with Rod Donald 14 years ago when the Green Party first created the positions. She was the first Green MP to speak in Parliament following the 1996 election and is believed to be the first Green candidate in the world to win an electorate in a first-past-the-post system, winning Coromandel in 1999. Ms Fitzsimons had been indicating for some time that she would bow out of politics before the 2011 election, and has cited it as a personal decision. "It is the right time to pass the torch and I look forward to being an active 'backbencher'," Fitzsimons says. The Green Party has a policy that it must have a male and a female in the co-leadership roles. Current Green Party MPs Sue Bradford and Metiria Turei have confirmed their candidacies. It is understood their colleague Sue Kedgley is not interested in the post.
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31 March ACC minister Nick Smith has announced a reconfigured ACC board with the appointment of four new board members in addition to the new chair, John Judge. 27 March Former Prime Minister Helen Clark is set to be the new administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) following the request by United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to the president of the General Assembly to confirm Miss Clark in the role. Miss Clark has been selected from a short-list of three, out of an initial field of more than 30. Her new role is considered to be the most heavyweight international position ever held by a New Zealander - more significant even than Mike Moore's time as head of the World Trade Organisation.
It is the third-highest position in the UN, behind the secretary-general and his deputy. MP Darren Hughes, speaking for Labour leader Phil Goff, who is overseas, says Labour will feel Helen Clark's loss, but is proud of her achievement in getting the thumbs up from the United Nations secretary-general for a top job. Prime Minister John Key has given her the Government's full backing for the post. At present Miss Clark is the MP for Mt Albert, and her acceptance of the UN position and subsequent vacating of the electorate seat, will result in a by-election. List MP Phil Twyford is seen as the front-runner to be Labour's candidate. Next in line to replace him would be former Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard. Damien O'Connor is next on Labour's list, and it is likely that he will be returned to Parliament when Michael Cullen eventually retires. Miss Clark's appointment will be for four years and she will replace Mr Kemal Dervis. 20 March Waikato District Health Board chair Jerry Rickman today announced he would retire from the board next month. He told Health Minister Tony Ryall he was retiring to remove any "perceived conflicts" between his role as chair and his on-going work as a consultant to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Hamilton. Mr Rickman's resignation follows that of Hawke's Bay DHB chief executive, Chris Clarke on 5 February. 10 March The Health Minister, Tony Ryall has announced the appointment of Paul Menzies as the new chair of Southland District Health Board. Mr Ryall said, "Paul Menzies is a current elected member of the Board, and has been a member since 2001.He is also committed to the regional collaboration work currently underway with the Otago DHB, and the wider South Island." Mr Menzies has significant governance experience, having served on a number of public and private sector boards. 9 March ACC Minister Nick Smith has announced the appointment of former Ernst & Young chief executive John Judge as the new chair of the board of the corporation, replacing Ross Wilson. ACC needed a fresh start and John Judge brought a strong background in financial management and governance that would be essential to addressing the serious funding issues facing ACC, Nick Smith said He said he was not satisfied that the current board had the right skills to navigate ACC out of financial trouble and would make further changes to strengthen ACC’s governance and lead a new strategic direction. The new board would be in place by the end of March. 3 March Judy Kirk will step down from the position of National Party president in August 2009. Mrs Kirk was elected president in 2002. She said that with the party’s success at the 2008 General Election, she had met all objectives of the role and it was an appropriate time to step aside. 2 March Andrew Little is the new president of the New Zealand Labour Party. He was elected unopposed in a by-election following the resignation of outgoing president Mike Williams. Mr Little has been national secretary of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, New Zealand’s largest private sector trade union, since August 2000. The Party’s returning officer, general secretary Mike Smith says both Andrew Little and the new vice president Moira Coatsworth, who is replacing Marian Hobbs, were the only nominees for the two vacancies on New Zealand Council. 2 March Infrastructure Minister Bill English has announced an extra $115 million to be spent on new rolling stock, and the establishment of a small unit in the Treasury to oversee infrastructure issues in the coming term. National’s KiwiRail spend will include $39.9 million on building and upgrading 17 carriages for the TranzScenic passenger routes, and $75 million buying 20 new locomotives from China. The new carriages are being paid for out of an existing appropriation, while KiwiRail will borrow the $75 million for the new locomotives. The current carriages are over 70 years old, and the new carriages will be built by KiwiRail’s Hillside Engineering workshop in Dunedin from January next year. 2 March A National Infrastructure Unit is to be established to take a national overview of infrastructure priorities – providing cross-government co-ordination, planning and expertise. Its roles will include:
An executive director will lead the unit and report directly to the secretary to the Treasury. The Treasury will shortly commence an external search to fill this role, with an appointment expected to take about three months. Ahead of that appointment, Treasury deputy secretary Mike James is acting executive director.
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8 April Former Prime Minister and newly appointed head of the UNDP, Helen Clark, has given her valedictory speech in Parliament. In her speech Miss Clark mainly outlined her 27-year career in politics beginning in 1971 when she joined the Labour party. She said her work as a Parliamentarian was often rewarding, but also challenging and tough, especially in opposition in the 1990s. As polls for the Labour post-MMP plummeted she admitted 'looking back on it now I am only surprised that concerned delegations of colleagues didn’t beat a path to my door more often'. However, Labour's successful election in 1999 saw her become New Zealand’s first elected female Prime Minister who led the country for nine years. In that time she said that the government embarked on a programme of change across the economic, social, environmental and cultural spheres. She gave thanks to her Mt Albert electorate - which gave her opportunities and support to grow and develop as a politician and leader, her parents and extended family, and husband Peter for their unfailing support, and those in the Labour Party at all levels and in all regions across New Zealand. Miss Clark regarded her selection to the United Nations as a huge honour for herself and for New Zealand and will seek to carry out her duties there in a way which reflects well on New Zealand. She finished her speech acknowledging the coincidence of her delivering it 27 years to the month since her maiden speech in which she had said “My greatest wish is that at the end of my time in this House, I shall have contributed towards making New Zealand a better place than it is today for its people to live in.” Helen Clark resigned from Parliament last week, and takes up her post as head of the UNDP next week. 7 April State Services Minister Tony Ryall has announced the appointment of Mr John Ombler to the position of Deputy State Services Commissioner at the State Services Commission. 7 April Retiring National Party president Judy Kirk has been appointed to chair the board of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission. Minister of Internal Affairs Richard Worth has announced the appointment of Ms Kirk to a three-year term on the board, effective from 1 May 2009. Dr Worth also paid tribute to John Goulter, DCNZM, who is retiring from the board on 30 April 2009. Other current members of the board are Laura Humphreys of Wellington, John Wright of Rangiora and Chris Curley of Auckland. Dr Worth said there was one other vacancy on the board which would be filled once Ms Kirk joined the board to enable her to have an appropriate input into the candidate selection process. 7 April Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen has announced that he will be resigning from Parliament at the end of this month. “I will be taking up a position on 1 May as a director of New Zealand Post. I will take over as deputy chair on 1 October this year,” Dr Cullen said. In addition, Mr Cullen will be acting as principal advisor to the chair of Waikato-Tainui. He is also expecting an invitation from Ngati Tuwharetoa to play a significant role in their comprehensive Treaty negotiations. 7 April Appointments to the boards of State Owned Enterprises have been announced by State Owned Enterprises Minister Simon Power. Mr Power has announced 22 new appointments, one elevation of a deputy chair to chair, three elevations of a director to deputy chair, and 20 reappointments.There are three new chairs to SOE boards: David Clarke (Kordia), Phil Lough (Quotable Value), and Sarah Astor (MetService – promoted from deputy chair). The minister paid tribute to the outgoing chairs Wayne Brown (Kordia), Kay McKelvie (Quotable Value), and Dr Francis Small (MetService) – for their service and leadership. Individual appointments include: Joanna Perry (Genesis), Polly Schaverien (MetService) and Ian Donald (Transpower) who have been elevated to deputy chair, and Paula Rebstock is now deputy chair of New Zealand Railways Corporation. Hon Dr Michael Cullen has been appointed to the board of New Zealand Post, and is expected to become deputy chair in October. For a full list of appointments and reappointments click here. 6 April Labour Party President Andrew Little is calling for nominations for the Mt Albert by-election, following the appointment of Rt Hon Helen Clark as Head of the UN Development Programme.
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30 May The Green party has elected Metiria Turei as its new female co-leader at the Green Party’s AGM in Dunedin. Mrs Turei replaces the long-serving Jeanette Fitzsimons who has stepped down after 14 years in the position. Both major parties have now selected candidates to contest the Mt Albert electorate for the June 13 by-election. The National Party has confirmed Korean born former TV presenter and current list MP Melissa Lee will stand as their candidate, while Labour's candidate is former UN aid worker and adviser to Foreign Affairs David Shearer. Lee was chosen by National over Ravi Musuku, who has stood for National against Helen Clark in two previous elections. MP John Boscawen will contest the seat for ACT. The Green party has chosen co-leader Russel Norman to contest the seat. Labour leader Phil Goff says the Greens’ decision to stand Dr Norman could split the left’s vote, but believes the party has put forward a high-profile candidate to increase its exposure nationally. Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party have chosen Dakta Green an advocate for cannabis law reform as their candidate. United Future Party has selected former MP Judy Turner to stand. 5 May Labour Leader Phil Goff has announced changes to the Labour party spokespeople roles following the departure of the Rt Hon Helen Clark and the return of Hon Damien O’Connor following Hon Michael Cullen's departure. Shane Jones will take on the economic development and environment portfolios and Nanaia Mahuta has relinquished her front bench position and the environment portfolio at her own request, but has taken on Maori social development. Biosecurity, rural affairs and associate agriculture portfolios have been given to Damien O'Connor on his to parliament. For a full list click here. 17 April Commissioner Cindy Kiro is to step down from her job at the Children Commission. When she was appointed six years ago Dr Kiro was the first woman, first Maori and youngest Children's Commissioner. During her term Dr Kiro has been up-front about her anti-smacking stance, bullying and her intolerance for child abuse in New Zealand. Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett has appointed child care and protection expert John Angus for six months until a permanent appointment is made. Mr Angus was previously a front-line social worker and senior public servant. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
June | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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16 June National MPs have gathered to elect a new senior whip to replace Otaki MP Nathan Guy who was promoted to a minister outside Cabinet yesterday replacing Dr Worth. Mr Guy takes over the internal affairs portfolio. He will also have responsibility for Archives New Zealand and the National Library. In addition, he will be associate minister of justice and takes the new position of associate minister of transport. The only other ministerial change is Maurice Williamson taking up land information, a portfolio with strong connections to the statistics portfolio he already holds. 13 June Labour's candidate David Shearer has won the Mt Albert electorate in a resounding victory. Shearer, a former UN aid worker, won with 12,613 votes (63 percent) – a 9187 majority. His nearest rival, National's Melissa Lee, only managed to win 3426 votes, while the Greens candidate, co-leader Russel Norman came in third with 2418 votes. 12 June Dr Richard Worth has resigned from Parliament with immediate effect as police continue to investigate a complaint against him which came to light at the beginning of June, after which he initially resigned from Cabinet. Dr Cam Calder has been promoted to Parliament as the next person on the National party list following the resignation announcement. Dr Calder, an Auckland dentist, almost made it to Wellington on election night in 2008, when he was the last one elected off the National Party list, only to lose his place when special votes were counted, giving the Green Party another seat in the House. Although Dr Calder has said he had never wanted to get back in as the result of an MP's misfortune he was also humbled and privileged at the thought of rejoining the National team. He will be sworn into Parliament on Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
July | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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15 July The bodies of Te Papa chief executive Seddon Bennington and friend Marcella Jackson have been found just a kilometre away from an alpine hut that would have provided them shelter. Police have said that the pair were found just off the track, about a kilometre short of Kime Hut in the Tararua Ranges. Dr Bennington, 61, and Mrs Jackson, 54, also known as Rosie Jackson, set off from Otaki Forks on Saturday for Kime Hut, about 10 kilometres into the range, but failed to return on Sunday afternoon as planned. Dr Bennington was an experienced tramper and the pair were thought to be well-equipped. Dr Bennington was chief executive of Te Papa for six years, and was previously the director of institutions such the Carnegie Science Centre in Pittsburgh, and Scitech Discovery Centre in Perth. Prior to leaving to overseas, he headed the Otago Early Settlers’ Museum in Dunedin, and Wellington’s City Gallery. Kaihautū Michelle Hippolite would step into the role of acting chief executive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
August | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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2 August The National party board of directors has elected Auckland businessman Peter Goodfellow as their new president. Mr Goodfellow takes over from Judy Kirk who held the post for seven years. He says he is honoured to have been elected and is looking forward to carrying on the great work undertaken by Mrs Kirk. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
September | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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25 September Green MP Sue Bradford has announced her resignation from Parliament after a decade in the House, but confirmed she would remain a member and supporter of the Green Party. Ms Bradford said her decision, effective October 30, was prompted by the Green Party’s co-leader contest earlier this year: “The Party made a clear and democratic decision, but of course it was personally disappointing and I’m ready for a change.” 19 September Auckland High Court Judge Hon Justice Helen Winkelmann has been appointed Chief High Court Judge to replace Hon Justice Anthony Randerson when he joins the bench of the Court of Appeal next year, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson has announced. Mr Finlayson also announced the appointment of Wellington lawyer Rebecca Ellis as a Judge of the High Court. Justice Randerson's appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect from 1 February 2010, when Justice Winkelmann's appointment as Chief High Court Judge will also take effect.Justice Winkelmann will be only the second woman to head the High Court. The current Chief Justice, Dame Sian Elias, headed the High Court until the establishment of the Supreme Court in 2004. Justice Ellis's appointment will take effect on 1 November 2009 and she will sit in Auckland. 11 September The Minister of Maori Affairs, Dr Pita Sharples has sworn in the new Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court, Chief Judge Wilson Whare Isaac, at a ceremony at Pakirikiri Marae, Tokomaru Bay. Dr Sharples said Chief Judge Isaac had proven his ability when he presided over three major Waitangi Tribunal claims. "In each of these situations, Chief Judge Isaac gained the respect and trust of each iwi respectively - acquiring a reputation for fairness and compassion that we know will be exercised to a great extent in the Maori Land Court," said Dr Sharples. He said Chief Judge Isaac's leadership of the Maori Land Court is not just a matter of knowledge, skills and managing a heavy workload. "The leadership is also about the way in which Chief Judge Isaac has been able to negotiate differences, and ... bring together different strands to achieve a workable solution - indeed a work of art," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
October | ||||||||||||||||||||||
November | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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17 November New Green Party MP David Clendon formally enters Parliament today. He will be sworn in at 2pm and will give his maiden speech at 5.45pm. David Clendon is of Ngapuhi/Te Roroa and Pakeha heritage, and has been with the Green Party since 1990. 15 November New Zealand’s High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Te Rongotoa (Tia) Barrett, died in Middlemore Hospital this morning after a short illness, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said today.
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December
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1 December Following Dame Margaret Bazley's review into legal aid, Justice Minister Simon Power has accepted the resignations of four members of the board of the Legal Services Agency (LSA): current chair Carol Durbin and board members Jane Taylor, Alister James and Dr Pare Keiha. Mr Power said the board would be cut from six members to four, after Dame Margaret identified serious shortcomings in the delivery and monitoring of legal aid. Cabinet is to consider folding the LSA into the Ministry of Justice and appointing an independent statutory officer to oversee the granting of legal aid and the running of cases by the public defence service. Cabinet also agreed to review the quality of legal services provided by legal aid lawyers and the disciplining of poorly performing lawyers. This will happen in two years' time instead of three as recommended by Dame Margaret. Retired High Court judge Sir John Hansen will be the new board chair. The other new appointee will be Wellington company director John Spencer. They will join existing board members Jane Huria and Ross Tanner, who were appointed in September. |
