link to page 1
27 August 2025
OIAD-1720
John Luke
[FYI request #32009 email]
Tēnā koe John
Thank you for your email of 13 August 2025 making the following request under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) of the Ministry for the Environment (the Ministry):
I noted, you have recently call for nomination for Fiordland Marine Guardians
https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2025-go4308
May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you have call for
public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website. A copy of your ad as well. Also, how many
applications you have received from the public and how many you have received from
other nominating agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women etc for your role. How
many you have shortlisted and how many you have interviewed. Also, can I request to
view the appointment letter if there is one sent to the appointee. I am happy for you to
remove all the personal information.
Also, may I request the job description for the appointed role and what's pay rate?
I have provided a response to each of your questions below and I am releasing the job
advertisement text, job description, and six appointment letters to you as requested.
Call for nominations
As per section 15(2) of the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act
2005:
1
In appointing members to the Guardians, the Minister must—
(a) consult the Minister for Biosecurity, the Minister of Conservation, the Minister of
Fisheries, and the Southland Regional Council; and
(b) ensure that the membership reflects a balanced mix of knowledge and experience in
relation to the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area; and
(c) ensure that 1 member is nominated by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu: and
(d) ensure that at least 5 members are ordinarily resident in the Otago or Southland
regions.
In November 2024, Minister Simmonds (the Minister) wrote to the Ministers for Biosecurity,
Conservation, and Oceans and Fisheries and the Chief Executive of Environment Southland
to invite their nominations.
1
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0036/latest/DLM341226.html
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
1
link to page 2
The Minister wrote to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in November 2024 to seek its nomination for
a person to be appointed to the Guardians.
In December 2024, the Ministry called for nominations and applications for one vacant role
via: • advertisements in the following newspapers:
o the Otago Daily Times
o the Southland Times
o the Ensign (Gore)
o the Southland Express
o the Southland Advocate (online only)
• an advertisem
ent on https://jobs.govt.nz/
• the Fiordland Marine Guardians website
2 and email database
• the Ministry for the Environment’s career website and Facebook, Instagram, and
Linkedin pages
• emails to the nominating agencies (Ministry for Women, Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry for
Pacific Peoples, Ministry for Ethnic Communities, and Ministry of Disabled People)
• emails to partner government organisations (Department of Conservation, Ministry
for Primary Industries, Biosecurity New Zealand, Fisheries New Zealand, and
Environment Southland)
• further emails to:
o the Southland Conservation Board
o the University of Otago
o the Southland Chamber
o Community Trust South.
A copy of the job advertisement
I am releasing to you in full a copy of the text used for the newspaper and online job
advertisements.
Applications nominated, received, shortlisted, and interviewed
Nominations for the vacant role closed on 31 January 2025. The Ministry received seven
applications from members of the public, all received through the Ministry’s inbox:
[email address]. No applications or nominations were received from the nominating
agencies. Four candidates were shortlisted and interviewed for the vacant position.
The Minister received one nomination from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for a member to be
reappointed.
A copy of the appointment letter and pay rate
I am releasing copies of six appointment letters to you in part, with some information
withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of natural persons. These
letters include the respective pay rates for the roles. Please note that Minister Potaka
2
https://www.fmg.org.nz/index.php/news/cal -nominations-fiordland_marine-guardians
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
2
progressed appointments as Acting Minister for the Environment and as such is the
signature on the appointment letters.
Job description
I am releasing the job description to you in full.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman of
my decisions relating to this request, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The
relevant details can be f
ound at: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
Please note that due to the public interest in our work, the Ministry publishes responses to
requests for official information shortly after the response has been sent on our website at:
https://environment.govt.nz/about-us/official-information-act-requests/. If you have any
queries about this, please feel free to contact our Ministerial Services team at:
[email address].
Nāku noa, nā
Hayden Johnston
General Manager – Natural Environment
Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao
PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143 | Freephone 0800 499 700 | environment.govt.nz
3
