Functional leads take leadership of organisational functions that are common across the public service. They are designated by the Public Service Commissioner and are intended to secure efficiencies and consistency across the public service in these areas. The leads provide guidance and support to agencies to help them improve capability, and to improve alignment of agency investments and work programmes.

We currently have four areas with functional leads, in addition to those that have been designated as system leads under the Public Service Act 2020:

Andrew Hampton
Government Protective Security Lead

Ray Smith
Health and Safety Lead

Peter Mersi
Diversity and Inclusion co-lead

Gaye Searancke
Diversity and Inclusion co-lead

Government Protective Security lead  

The Government Protective Security Lead provides protective security leadership, guidance and support at the chief executive, organisation, and system levels across New Zealand.

The aim of the Government Protective Security Lead is to help lift overall security resilience and embed protective security into New Zealand organisations. They support chief executives to meet their accountabilities for protecting their organisations and addressing security risks and threats that their organisation faces.

Government Protective Lead

  • Andrew HamptonTe Tumu Whakarae mō Te Pā Whakamarumaru | Director-General of Security and Chief Executive

    Te Pā Whakamarumaru | New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

    Andrew is the Director-General of Security and Chief Executive of Te Pā Whakamarumaru New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. Prior to this, Andrew was Director-General and Chief Executive of the Government Communications Security Bureau from April 2016, and Government Chief Information Security Officer. Andrew has held senior public service positions including in the State Services Commission (now Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission), and as Deputy Secretary for Education and Director of the Office of the Secretary at the Ministry for Education, Deputy Chief Executive at the Crown Law Office, and as Deputy Secretary Courts and Director of the Office of Treaty Settlements, both at the Ministry of Justice.

    Commenced
    April 2023 

    Sectors
    National security

    Leadership groups
    Te Ohu Tumu Whakarae i te Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Leadership Team

    Te Pae Aramahi Whakahaere | Operations Development Board Chair

    Website
    nzsis.govt.nz

Health and Safety Lead

The Health and Safety Lead is tasked with providing practical support to chief executives, senior leaders and the health and safety teams of government agencies to enable their personal leadership of health and safety for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

Government and Safety

Diversity and Inclusion Leads

The Diversity and Inclusion Leads are responsible for leading diversity and inclusion progress in the Public Service, and supporting chief executives to meet their obligations and expectations in the Public Service Act 2020 

Papa Pounamu Public Service Work Programme

  • Gaye SearanckeTe Tumu Whakarae mō Toitū Te Whenua | Secretary for Land Information and Chief Executive

    Toitū Te Whenua | Land Information New Zealand

    Gaye is Secretary of Land Information and Chief Executive of Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, a role she has held since 2019. Gaye supported Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission from March 2023 to October 2024 as a Deputy Public Service Commissioner and Chief Executive on Assignment before returning to her substantive role at Land Information New Zealand. Gaye has held Deputy Chief Executive roles at IRD, ACC, MBIE [and the Ministry of Economic Development as it was then called]. She is a qualified lawyer and worked in private practice before joining the public service. 

    Commenced
    August 2019

    Sectors
    Environment

    Leadership groups
    Te Ohu Tumu Whakarae i te Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Leadership Team

    Website
     linz.govt.nz

  • Peter MersiKaikōmihana o Te Tari Taake | Commissioner of Inland Revenue and Chief Executive

    Te Tari Taake | Inland Revenue Department

    Peter is the Commissioner and Chief Executive of Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue. He was previously COVID-19 system leader, on secondment from his substantive role as Secretary for Transport and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Transport, a position he held since 2016. He also previously served as Chief Executive, Land Information New Zealand, and Acting Secretary for Internal Affairs, Department of Internal Affairs. Before his chief executive roles, Peter was a Deputy Commissioner at Inland Revenue and a Deputy Secretary at the Treasury for 7 years.

    Commenced
    July 2022

    Sectors
    Business

    Social

    Leadership groups
    Te Ohu Tumu Whakarae i te Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Leadership Team

    Website
    ird.govt.nz