Cullen Michael: Retirements — Chief Ombudsman; Appointments — Chief Ombudsman and Ombudsmen 
Cullen Michael: Retirements — Chief Ombudsman; Appointments — Chief Ombudsman and Ombudsmen 
[Volume:608;Page:5132] 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I move  
That this House taking note of the forthcoming retirement of Sir Brian George Conway Elwood CBE as Chief Ombudsman place on record its appreciation of Sir Brian’s service as an Officer of Parliament since 1992; further note his earlier distinguished public and local government service including periods as Mayor of Palmerston North President of the Municipal Association of New Zealand and Chairman of the Local Government Commission; and wish Sir Brian and Lady Elwood a happy retirement 
. I think that the motion is long enough and actually covers the speech that I was going to make. 
Secondly I move  
That pursuant to section 3 of the Ombudsmen Act 1975 this House recommends Her Excellency the Governor-General to appoint Maurice John Belgrave as an Ombudsman and to appoint him as Chief Ombudsman for a term commencing on 1 July 2003 
.  
I also move  
That pursuant to section 8 of the Ombudsmen Act 1975 this House recommends Her Excellency the Governor-General to reappoint Melwyn Purefoy Smith of Wellington as an additional Ombudsman for a period of two years commencing on 5 June 2003 
.  
Obviously having touched upon Sir Brian’s long career I say that he served particularly as the head of the Local Government Commission during its most active period between 1985 and 1992 and while there was much bitter and indeed at times almost vicious political opposition to the reforms that Sir Brian headed I notice that not a single one of those reforms was subsequently undone and that some of those who were most active in opposing them now call very actively for them to be taken a great deal further in terms of local government reform and amalgamation of local authorities. 
In terms of John Belgrave I say that he has a very long distinguished career in the public sector with some brief periods in the private sector. John initially served with the Department of Trade and Industry and served in a number of roles overseas in London Melbourne and Tokyo. He then held senior executive positions in the public service: Assistant Secretary to the Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Director-General in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and chief executive positions as Comptroller of Customs Secretary to the Minister of Commerce Secretary to the Department of Commerce and then Secretary of the Ministry of Justice from 1994 to 1997. He was Executive Director of the New Zealand Bankers Association for a couple of years Executive Director of the Electricity Supply Association for 2 years chair of the Standards Council chair of the Institute of Policy Studies at Victoria University and since 1999 chair of the Commerce Commission. So he brings an enormous range of experience to the office of Chief Ombudsman—an office that inevitably brings him on occasions into conflict with all kinds of different people both Government and others. The Ombudsman’s position is one of those positions where one is never going to please everybody all the time but it is a matter of carrying it out with integrity and honour. I think it can clearly be said that Mr Belgrave has the qualifications for that task as Sir Brian Elwood has had the qualifications for the task since 1992. 
Mel Smith was appointed an additional Ombudsman at the end of 2001 for 18 months and this motion reappoints Mr Smith for a term of 2 years. He was previously a Deputy Secretary for Internal Affairs and then rather extraordinarily I think was the acting chief executive of four agencies—the Department of Justice the Government Superannuation Fund the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social Policy. He has performed I think with distinction as an additional Ombudsman since his appointment.