4 May 2006

Health officials selected Police Commissioner

National's Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power, says he would like to know why there was no one with police experience on the interview panel to select the new Police Commissioner.

He is releasing an answer to a parliamentary question that shows that besides State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble, the interviewing panel consisted of three people with extensive experience in health but no one with any remote connection to the police.

The selection panel consisted of:

* Mark Prebble, State Services Commissioner and former head of Helen Clark's Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. * Stan Rodger, chair of the Health Workforce Advisory Committee, and former Labour Cabinet Minister. * Lynette Stewart, chair of Northland DHB. * Syd Bradley, chair of Canterbury DHB and former deputy chair of NZ Post.

"I would like Police Minister Annette King to explain how this has come about," says Mr Power.

"You are selecting a new police commissioner, after quite obvious issues surrounding the previous two, and instead of getting a retired top officer or even a Police Commissioner from Australia you ask three health officials to do the job.

"I am astounded, and I am sure frontline police will be also scratching their heads as to how our Police Commissioner could come to be selected without any police input whatsoever on the selection panel.

"I wonder if we would be happy with police officers choosing the chief executive of a DHB?"

Parliamentary Question 03922 (2006)

Sent: Monday, 1 May 2006 11:27 a.m.
To: Simon Power; Jemma Montagu
Subject: 03922 (2006) Published - State Services - Corrected Reply

Question: Who was on the selection and interview panels for the
appointment of the new Chief Commissioner of Police, and have any of these panel members served in the police?

Portfolio: State Services
Minister: Hon Annette King
Date Lodged:13/04/2006

Answer Text: Hon Annette King (Minister of State Services) replies:The members of the interview panel were Mark Prebble (convenor), Hon Stan Rodger, Ms Lynette Stewart and Mr Syd Bradley. None of these people have served in the police.Attachment: None

Date Received:01/05/2006

Mark Prebble (Convenor)

- State Services Commissioner.
- Former head of Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under Helen Clark.

Hon Stan Rodger

- Chair, Health Workforce Advisory Committee. Currently: a director of NZ Post, Chair of Injury Surveillance Ministerial Advisory Panel and Deputy Chair of Transpower NZ.

- Labour MP for Dunedin North, 1978-1990. Held Ministerial portfolios of Labour, State Services, State Owned Enterprises and Railways, and Deputy Minister of Finance.

- Chairman on Southern Regional Health Authority, 1995-1998. Has also served as non-executive Chairman of the Researched Medicines Industry Association and a member of Blood Products Inquiry.

Lynette Stewart

- Chair, Northland District Health Board (appointed by Labour in 2001)
- Member, Maori Health and Disability Workforce Subcommittee (from Health Workforce Advisory Committee)
- CEO, Te Tai Tokerau MAPO Trust.
- A director on Te Tai Tokerau Maori Rural Health Training Consortium.
- Member, Public Health Advisory Committee and National Health Committee.

Syd Bradley

- Chair, Canterbury District Health Board (appointed by Labour in 2000)
- Chair, Christchurch International Airport and Waipara Hills Wine Estate
- Chair/director of several health organisations over past decade: Healthlink South, Healthcare Otago, Canterbury Health LTD, NZ Health Funding Authority, NZ Crown Health Association, District Health Boards NZ and governance observer on Pharmac Board.
- Previously deputy chair of NZ Post (appointed by Labour in 2000), and general manager of Commercial Operations (International) NZ Post.

ENDS

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