UNCLASSIFIED
New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
55 Molesworth Street
11 May 2026
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
John Luke
OIA 30868
[FYI request #34469 email]
Tēnā koe John Luke
Thank you for your email of 11 April 2026, in which you request the following under the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA):
“I noted, Notice of Appointment of a Deputy Chair of the Board of the New Zealand
Antarctic Institute https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2026-g...
•
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 and pay rate
as well. Also, how many applications you have received for each of the role 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 Heather Madge Simpson. I am happy for you to
remove all the personal information.
•
Also, I would like to request the name of all current board member of New
Zealand Antarctic Institute and start and end date of their terms.”
Response to your request
As set out in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (the Ministry) response to you of
8 April 2024 (OIA 29166), the Minister of Foreign Affairs makes appointments to
Antarctica New Zealand’s Board under the Crown Entities Act 2004. The Gazette notice
you refer to announces the Minister’s decision to appoint existing member Heather
Simpson to Deputy Chair of the Board.
This appointment was made in accordance with the Crown Entities Act 2004 and follows
Te Kawa Mataaho the Public Service Commission’s guidance on board appointments
(available at
: www.publicservice.govt.nz/guidance/guide-board-appointment-and-
induction-guidelines). As this was an appointment of an existing Board member to a
different role, there was no call for nominations, and no shortlisting or interview process
was required.
Please find attached a copy of the appointment letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs
to Heather Simpson. Some information has been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the
OIA, to protect individual privacy. Where the information has been withheld under
UNCLASSIFIED
Page 2 of 2
section 9 of the OIA, no public interest in releasing the information has been identified
that would override the reasons for withholding it.
You also requested the remuneration for the Deputy Chair of Antarctica New Zealand’s
Board. The fee is NZ$27,500 per annum, set in accordance with the Cabinet Fees
Framework. Further information about this Framework can be found on the Department
of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website
: www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/co-25-2-
cabinet-fees-framework-members-appointed-bodies-which-crown-has-interest
Please see the following table for the members of the Antarctica New Zealand Board,
including appointment and end dates, as of the date of your request.
Name
Date of original
Expiry date of present
appointment
term (Gazetted)
Leon Grice (Chair)
26-Feb-24
25-Feb-27
Heather Simpson
(Deputy Chair)
26-Feb-24
25-Feb-27
Neville Harris
15-Apr-24
14-Apr-27
Neil Gilbert
1-Aug-20
14-Apr-27
Kieran Horne
29-Jul-24
28-Jul-27
Craig Ellison
18-Dec-24
17-Dec-27
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official
information requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your
personal information removed) may be published on the Ministry website:
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-us/official-information-act-responses/
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Corbett
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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