Crucial vacancies in Govt posts

Karen Sewell's contract is also up at the ministry. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The resignations last week of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Development chief executives create vacancies in two areas crucial to delivering Government policy.

Neither departure is seen as political or the result of incompatibility, but the vacancies, along with the heads of Treasury and Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, will be major appointments.

Peter Hughes has headed the Ministry of Social Development since 2001 - it was the job Christine Rankin wanted so badly she went to the Employment Court when she didn't get it.

Mr Hughes has been highly regarded by Labour and National Governments alike, and within his own ministry.

With reforms pending after the welfare working group report and the challenges of responding to the Christchurch earthquake, the position will get only more demanding.

He hasn't said what he is doing after his time is up in September.

Karen Sewell's contract is also up at the ministry.

She has served at difficult times under both Governments since 2001, heading the Education Review Office, New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the Ministry of Education at different times during the settling in of NCEA and national standards.

While she has not received the accolades that Mr Hughes has, she is regarded as a highly professional leader.

Speculation that the Tertiary Education Commission could be merged with the Ministry of Education was dampened yesterday by Education Minister Anne Tolley.

She said she, like other ministers, would be looking at where mergers could occur in her sector.

The TEC, under her and the current TEC minister Stephen Joyce, had already undergone substantial restructuring.

She will be looking at the functions of the Careers Service, the Education Review Office and the NZQA.

The heads of Treasury, the State Services Commission and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet are the three top jobs in the public service, having oversight of other departments.

And there is some consideration being given to merging some of their functions.

The head of Treasury, John Whitehead, will be leaving at the end of May, after the Budget.

He is to take up a two-year post as executive director of the World Bank.

A decision on his replacement is expected soon.

The present State Services Commissioner and former Deputy Secretary to Treasury, Iain Rennie, is thought to have ruled himself out of contention.

He recently dispatched his deputy, John Ombler, to plug the vacancy that opened up when negotiations broke down for an interim appointment to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.

The present head of Customs, Martyn Dunne, was to have been the interim CERA head before taking up a post as High Commissioner to Canberra.

But he and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee could not agree on their respective functions.

Despite that, Mr Dunne has had a spectacular transition from the military where he rose to Commander of joint forces and the rank of Major-General.

Contracts on two other important chief executives - Crown Law and the Department of Building and Housing - expire this year.

Solicitor-General David Collins could expect to be reappointed if he wanted an extension, or he could expect a judicial appointment, probably to the Court of Appeal.

Highly regarded Katrina Bach is due to step down after seven years at Building and Housing.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad stepped down in the past week, refusing to take media interviews on his controversial five-year term.

He has been replaced by Peter Marshall, who has taken the post for just three years.

While Mr Marshall said he had asked specifically for the shorter term, Prime Minister John Key indicated at the time that shorter terms for public sector chiefs could become more common.