Recent Appointments 15 September New Zealand’s next ambassador to Timor-Leste will be career diplomat Tim McIvor, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today. Tim McIvor is currently head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Asia Regional Unit. He will begin his assignment in mid-December, taking over from Ruth Nuttall who is returning to Wellington. 27 August New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Tarawa will be diplomat Robert Kaiwai, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. Mr Kaiwai will also be accredited to the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Mr Kaiwai takes up his position in September, replacing Craig Rickit who has returned to Wellington. 26 August The State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, has announced that Bronwyn Dalley has agreed to act as Chief Executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH). 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. Bronwyn Dalley will take up the role on 1 September 2008. 14 August New Zealand’s next Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva will be career diplomat David Walker, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. Dr Walker takes up his position in January, replacing Crawford Falconer, who is returning to Wellington. 1 August New Zealand’s next Ambassador to China will be career diplomat Carl Worker, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. Mr Worker is currently director of the Americas Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He takes up his position in March, replacing Tony Browne, who returns to Wellington. 22 July New Zealand’s next Consul-General to Hong Kong will be career diplomat Adele Bryant, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. Ms Bryant will take up her appointment in November, replacing Julian Ludbrook, who returns to Wellington. 21 July ACC Minister Maryan Street has welcomed the appointment of Ngaruma (Ruma) Karaitiana and Sara Lunam to the board of ACC. Ruma Karaitiana is the Chief Executive of the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation and has direct experience of operating businesses with a large number of staff, and implementing health, safety and injury prevention policies and processes within them. Ruma is an active member of Rangitane o Manawatu and is involved in a number of governance roles within its structure.” Sara Lunam is currently a director of New Zealand Post Ltd and the New Zealand Merino Company Limited and is the Chair of the World Netball Championships Board. Sara has a very keen interest in workplace safety and injury prevention and currently chairs the Health & Safety committee of the NZ Post Board.” 18 July Dr Chris Eichbaum has been appointed to the Reserve Bank Board, Finance Minister Michael Cullen has announced. Dr Eichbaum is currently Senior Lecturer in Public Policy in the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington and his previous positions include appointments in the New Zealand and Australian public service. He replaces the Rt Hon Ted Thomas whose term has expired. 15 July Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel has announced the appointment of Ralph Simpson as a new member of the Accounting Standards Review Board (ASRB) for a five-year term. 15 July Tourism Minister Damien O’Connor has announced the appointment of Greg Muir as Chair of the New Zealand Tourism Board. Mr Muir is currently the Executive Chairman of Pumpkin Patch Ltd. Prior to this he was CEO of The Warehouse. He replaces Wally Stone who has held the position of Chair since April 2002. 30 June The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, has announced the appointment of David Smol to the position of Chief Executive of the Ministry of Economic Development. 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. 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. He takes up his appointment on 29 September 2008. 27 June AgResearch Chief Executive Dr Andrew West has announced that Sam Robinson had been appointed as Chair of the Agresearch Board of Directors. “Sam Robinson is a well known Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer who is highly respected in the red meat industry and an acknowledged farming leader,” said Dr West. Mr Robinson will take up the position on 1st July 2008, taking over from outgoing Chair Rick Christie. 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. Dr Reynolds takes up his appointment on 21 July 2008. 16 May As of 12 May 2008, Wayne Donnelly became Acting Chief Executive for the Ministry of Transport. Immediately prior to his role at the Ministry, he was Chief Executive of Land Transport New Zealand, a position he held since the agency was established in December 2004. 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. Mr MacDonald takes up his appointment on 1 July 2008. 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, and has 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. 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 expected to take up the position when the new transport agency is formally established on 1 July 2008. March 6 Transport Minister Annette King has announced 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 board members are: Brian Roche (Wellington), Chair. Mr Roche, an accountant and Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, has held a number of key government appointments, and was the Establishment Chair of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority. •Paul Bishop (Auckland) is a civil engineer who worked for the Manukau City Council, senior management positions with Bitumix Limited and Envirowaste Services Limited; past Chair of the New Zealand Bitumen Contractors’ Association, and holds various directorships in relation to Envirowaste Services Limited. •Paul Fitzharris (Picton) has been the Acting Chair of Land Transport New Zealand since 1 March 2007 and has served on the Land Transport New Zealand Board since May 2005; represented the New Zealand Police Department on the National Road Safety Committee. •Bryan Jackson (Waikanae) has been the Acting Chair of Transit New Zealand since 8 March 2007. He was involved in the merger of the Land Transport Safety Authority and Transfund New Zealand and was a member of the Land Transport New Zealand Board. Chair of Vehicle Testing New Zealand and is a past President of the Motor Trade Association. •Garry Moore (Christchurch) is an accountant who has been a member of the Boards of Land Transport New Zealand and Transit New Zealand since 30 April 2007. Mayor of Christchurch from 1998 to October 2007. Led the restructuring of the Christchurch City Council at both elected and administrative levels. •Alick Shaw (Wellington) Wellington City Deputy Mayor from 2001 to 2007. He has directorships on a range of Government, community and trust boards. Director of the company managing the water infrastructure of both Wellington and Hutt Cities, and is the Foundation Chair of the New Zealand School of Music. March 4 New Labour List MP Louisa Wall has been sworn into Parliament. She replaces Ann Hartley who has resigned. February 15 Pacific Business Trust has appointed businessman Richard Reid as their new CEO. Mr Reid takes over at the trust from Essendon Tuitupou, who has been acting general manager of the trust since the departure of former CEO Paul Muller in June last year. January 25 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 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 17 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 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.		NEWS 17 November NEW NAME FOR CRI MERGER ANNOUNCED The CEO-designate of the new Crown Research Institute that will be formed on 1 December through the merger of HortResearch and Crop & Food Research, Peter Landon-Lane, today announced a name for the new CRI. Mr Landon-Lane, currently CEO of HortResearch, said the new company will be officially called The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited. It will trade as “Plant and Food Research” with the Te Reo name Rangahau Ahumara Kai”. “We deliberately chose a descriptive name because we want our purpose and value to be clear to customers, stakeholders and New Zealand,” said Mr Landon-Lane. “Plant and Food Research will work to provide science and research that builds on that reputation and allows the development of new, novel, sustainable food products that earn a premium in global markets.” “This was already the focus of HortResearch and Crop & Food Research, now, as a merged organisation we will be able to deliver greater benefit for New Zealand, faster. Our Te Reo name reflects this, weaving together the existing Maori names of our organisations and reinforcing our commitment to seek knowledge that allows us to grow food to support better human health and wellbeing. Mr Landon-Lane said branding for Plant and Food Research was being finalised and would be unveiled when the new company formally opens for business on December 1. 17 November NEW CABINET ANNOUNCED 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. In the announcement Deputy Prime Minister Bill English takes the Finance portfolio and also Infrastructure. Third-ranked Gerry Brownlee takes Economic Development and Energy, while Simon Power gets Justice, SOEs and Commerce. The Speaker will be long-time MP Lockwood Smith. New MP Steven Joyce takes the Transport, and Communications and IT portfolios as well as associate roles in finance and infrastructure. Paula Bennett, previously a backbench MP, takes the significant Social Development and Employment portfolio as well as Disability Issues and Youth Affairs. Other former backbenchers, Dr Jonathan Coleman and Kate Wilkinson, have also been promoted to the Cabinet table. Mr Key has left three senior MPs as ministers outside Cabinet - Maurice Williamson as Minister of Building and Construction, Customs, Statistics, and Small Business; Richard Worth as Internal Affairs Minister, and John Carter as Minister of Civil Defence, Senior Citizens, and Racing. For a full Cabinet list click here 11 November GOFF TO LEAD LABOUR PARTY 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 TAKES OVER 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. “I will be standing down – yes - and I will be expecting Labour colleagues to elect a new leader before Christmas," she told a shocked and disbelieving crowd of supporters. 6 October 48th PARLIAMENT DISSOLVED 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 NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS CORPORATION ANNOUNCED 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: from today, the rail industry operates as a single entity New Zealand Railways Corporation will be the corporate office the KiwiRail Board becomes the NZRC Board the Government announced $121 million of new rail funding funding of a further $880 million will be determined by the Government early next year a management team is being assembled by Acting Group Chief Executive William Peet existing brands will be maintained 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. 25 September FORMER NZ FIRST MP DIES 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 CROP & FOOD AND HORTRESEARCH TO MERGE 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 AMBASSADOR TO TIMOR-LESTE 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. 26 August CULTURE AND HERITAGE ACTING CE ANNOUNCED The State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, has announced that Bronwyn Dalley has agreed to act as Chief Executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH). 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. 22 July CULLEN ANNOUNCES KIWIRAIL UPGRADES 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: upgrades to be made to the locomotives of the diesel electric DC class including those working on the metro services in Wellington and Auckland which will improve services for customers and includes the re-commissioning of two more electric locomotives for freight service in the Wellington area; the replacement of the current Tranz Scenic fleet with newly refurbished BR cars over 5 years; some urgent repairs and safety issues to be addressed at the Wellington and Picton Interislander ferry terminals; and funding to evaluate whether KiwiRail can assemble locomotives at the Hutt shops with contributions from Hillside and other engineering works in New Zealand. 1 July RENNIE BEGINS AS STATE SERVICES COMMISSIONER 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. 30 June MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE NAMED The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, has announced the appointment of David Smol to the position of Chief Executive of the Ministry of Economic Development. 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 MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT CE AND SECRETARY ANNOUNCED 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 NORMAN ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT 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 AGRESEARH CHAIR STEPS DOWN 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 MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT HEAD NAMED 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 NEW GREEN MP AS WARD STEPS ASIDE 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. 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. 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. 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. To Top...	SUBSCRIBER LOGIN User name Password SPECIAL SUBSCRIBERS please go here UPDATES 2008   Check out these related links Network Politics (Fortnightly review of the NZ political landscape) NETWORKPR NZ PR INFLUENCES NETWORKPR AUST.
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