The Public Service is committed to a more joined-up government across the regions to help deliver better outcomes and services for New Zealanders.

Working as a unified Public Service is central to our ability to collectively achieve better wellbeing outcomes for New Zealanders. Connecting the Public Service across the regions ensures we are acting collaboratively around communities’ needs and strengths. 

Secretary for Social Development Debbie Power is the System lead for the regions.

Ngā Pou Kōtui-a-rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui Regional Public Service Commissioners

The Regional Public Service Commissioners with the Public Service Commissioner, standing in a line.

Regional Public Service Commissioners strengthen regional system leadership by working to coordinate and align central government decision makers.
They are focused on the planning and delivery of wellbeing outcomes in their regions, and ensuring there is regional alignment and national level input where needed to achieve outcomes for communities. They also support the system and system leaders to work cohesively and credibly with local government iwi, Māori organisations, NGOs and regional stakeholders. 

Regional Public Service Commissioners with their Spirit of Service award

The impact of a unified regional Public Service was seen in the collective response to COVID-19, known as Caring for Communities. Successful delivery of locally led responses under the Covid Protection Framework required considerable coordination of efforts and resources.

The Regional Public Service Commissioners were instrumental in activating action and coordination of resources across the system and demonstrated the value of a locally led, regionally enabled approach to a nationwide issue. In light of COVID-19, the Regional Public Service Commissioners will continue to work to enable government in the regions to contribute to delivering better wellbeing outcomes with a long-term view to the future.

Twelve Regional Public Service Commissioners have been appointed across New Zealand to cover 15 regions. Click on the accordion below to see more information about each Commissioner.

 

Graham MacPherson
Te Taitokerau

Jules Lynch
Tāmaki Makaurau

Ezra Schuster
Bay of Plenty, Waiariki

Gloria Campbell
Taranaki

Karen Bartlett
Te Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay

 

Michelle Paki
Waikato

Darlene Rastrick
Manawatu–Whanganui

Roy Sye
Greater Wellington

Craig Churchill
Marlborough, Nelson/Tasman, West Coast

Diane McDermott
Canterbury, Chatham Islands

Steph Voight standing in front of a tukutuku panel looking at the camera and smiling

Steph Voight
Southland, Otago

 

  • Graham MacPherson, Te Taitokerau, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Graham MacPherson, Te Taitokerau, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner 

    Graham spent his formative years in Public Service in the NZ Police. He has experience in a range of key leadership roles within the Ministry of Social Development and commenced in the role of Regional Commissioner MSD, Te Taitokerau in 2021. He has recently been appointed to the role of Regional Public Service lead.  

    “Te Taitokerau is a beautiful part of the country. We have so much to offer.  While we have challenges often unique to our region, we also have a history of using the power in our relationships to provide collective solutions to bettering our economy and social wellbeing.” 

  • Jules Lynch, Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Ministry of Social Development Regional Commissioner Auckland South

     

    Ko Te Arawa me Tainui ngā waka,
    Ko Tongariro te maunga,
    Ko Taupō te moana,
    Ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Waikato-Tainui me Ngāti Maniapoto ngā iwi

    Jules has had wide-ranging experience over 2 decades with Ngā Pirihimana Aotearoa New Zealand Police in various operational capacities, including:

     

    • general duties, criminal investigation branch, a role in youth and community services in Mangere
    • District Manager Road Policing, Area Commander, Counties Manukau
    • Principal Strategic Advisor to Assistant Commissioner Districts.

    “Every day around Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa, public servants are doing great work to make a difference for New Zealand and New Zealanders. Their contribution is many and varied. There are lots of opportunities to work in partnership with communities, iwi, agencies, and other providers to enable us as a region to be more responsive to whānau needs.” 

  • Ezra Schuster, Bay of Plenty, Waiariki, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Ministry of Health Group Manager Cross-Government

    Ezra has always been passionate about community development and social justice. This came from his upbringing and living in a tight-knit Samoan Catholic community in his hometown of Mangere, South Auckland. It was those core values of tautua (service), fa’aaloalo (respect) and alofa (love) that inspired him to become a youth worker, moving onto community development, education and now health.

    Ezra is a proud Aotearoa New Zealand-born Samoan and hails from the villages of Faleapuna, Fogapoa (Safotulafai) and Matautu (Lefaga). He is an even prouder dad of 5 school-aged children and husband to his wife Rachel, who is a school counsellor.

    “We are trying to ‘flip the traditional script’ in our rohe. Our senior regional leadership forums are chaired by iwi, and we see ourselves as public servants to be firmly in an enabling and supporting role. We are starting to see ourselves as the harbour, which exists to support the waka (Iwi). We are not there to guide or drive the journey — that is for the waka to do.” 

  • Gloria Campbell, Taranaki, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Ministry of Social Development Regional Commissioner

    Gloria began her Public Service career in 1978 and has worked in the social service sector ever since. Her current role is Regional Commissioner for the Ministry of Social Development for Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui.

    Gloria was appointed as the Regional Public Service Lead in August 2019 and became the Commissioner in 2021. She has a deep understanding of Taranaki and the region’s challenges. She recognises that meaningful work contributes to strong and more resilient communities. Privately, Gloria is passionate about the feathered kiwis and is involved with the Taranaki Kiwi Trust. She spends her weekends in the bush checking traps and watching kiwi that roam the forestry block in east Taranaki she owns with her husband.

    “Many of us have intergenerational links to this beautiful and unique region.  We are united in our passion to see Taranaki become an equitable and prosperous region.  Having an effective robust group of iwi, public servants and regional leaders who have relationships across the diversity of our population, we connect to the issues at the top of our communities minds.  We have the commitment and passion to enable solutions that lead to better outcomes for all.” 

  • Karen Bartlett, Hawke’s Bay, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Ministry of Social Development Regional Commissioner 

    Karen is an experienced public servant, most recently working as the Regional Commissioner for the Ministry of Social Development East Coast and Regional Public Service Commissioner East Coast Region (Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti).

    Her roles involve working with others, both strategically and operationally on aligned priorities to deliver results with whanau, iwi/ Māori, and the communities of the East Coast region. She is also a daughter, wife, and mother — and granny to 4 mokopuna — which guides her strong wish to see every mokopuna, whānau and kaumatua live well.

    “The Public Service in the East Coast region is well linked at a leadership level, and our teams work together cooperatively. While COVID-19 has been a significant challenge, the learnings gained reinforced the understanding that we are at our best when we work together to enable communities to lead engagement with whānau.” 

  • Darlene Rastrick, Manawatu–Whanganui, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Ministry of Social Development Regional Commissioner

    He uri no Te Atihaunui-a-paparangi me Ngati Tane, Ngati Varu, me Ngati Manaune ki Mangaia o ngā Kuki Airani ngā Iwi.
    Darlene is a proud Cook Island Māori wahine born and raised in the mighty Manawatu.

    Darlene is passionate about better life outcomes for iwi, hapu and whānau. With over two decades of experience in the public sector,  having held various roles within the Ministry of Social Development, where she has made significant contributions through strategies and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of New Zealanders. Darlene was appointed as the interim Regional Public Service Commissioner for Manawatu-Whanganui in February 2023.

    Darlene's appointment as the acting Commissioner speaks to her direction, governance, and unwavering commitment to the public service and hapori across her role.   

     “As tangata whenua and tangata moana I am deeply committed to seeing better outcomes for people through a unified public service who are collaborating effectively across the system. If we can break down barriers for our communities we can achieve great things through partnering and supporting those who need our help the most."

  • Roy Sye, Greater Wellington, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Ministry of Education Regional Director

    Roy’s background includes time working in the education sector as a teacher and school principal, positions on various boards, as an elected city councillor, running 2 successful businesses and as a Justice of the Peace for over 20 years.

    Roy served as Director of Education for the Ministry of Education for both the Hawke’s Bay/Tairāwhiti region and then Greater Wellington. He views his position as the Regional Public Service Commissioner for Greater Wellington as a hugely demanding yet rewarding role — one that is only possible with the active support of his fellow regional colleagues.

    “What has become clear is that our communities already have many of the solutions to achieve better outcomes but system structures, policy settings and a lack of agency collaboration often make doing what’s right a challenge. As part of our joined-up Public Service mahi, we want to address this challenge by strengthening our internal partnerships, building a shared understanding, and creating cross-agency efficiencies to better support our regional communities.”

  • Craig Churchill, Marlborough, Nelson/Tasman, West Coast, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Ministry of Social Development Regional Commissioner

    Craig enjoyed a 30-year career in the transport and logistics industry. He has lived in various centres around the country and taken up a variety of senior operational, sales, general management and business leadership roles in the field.

    Given his private sector work history, Craig is a relative newcomer to the Public Service. He brings with him experience in creating solutions, proactive thinking, strategic partnerships and collaborative problem-solving.

    Outside of his role as Regional Public Service Commissioner, Craig is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and Leadership New Zealand, and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

    “What stands out about the region, along with its unique natural environments and diverse communities, is the connectedness of our tangata and their willingness to work together, co-operating to form local solutions. This extends to the Public Service, which is joined up and working in partnership in the region with iwi, local government, economic and community leaders on supporting our communities.” 

  • Diane McDermott, Canterbury, Chatham Islands, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Commissioner Central/South for Biosecurity New Zealand – Ministry for Primary Industries

    Diane is a trusted senior leader, with more than 30 years’ experience in roles across the public, private, non-government, and not-for-profit sectors, both in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

    In her current role as Commissioner Central/South for Biosecurity New Zealand, Diane leads a large team who work to protect the central North Island and South Island against harmful pests and diseases. Her role spans a wide range of responsibilities from intelligence, digital systems and data analytics, health, safety and wellbeing, and other operational and administrative support functions.

    Diane is known for her passion for supporting people and her ability to form strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, working to achieve better results for her organisation, communities, individuals, and the people she leads.

    Diane has an in-depth understanding of both the government and the community contexts in Canterbury which will be vital in driving the best outcomes for the region. In 2020, she stepped into a Regional Public Service Commissioner role to assist with the COVID-19 response and the cross-government service delivery for those effected by the 2019 mosque attacks.

    “I’m privileged to have the opportunity to work with such proactive partners to facilitate a joined-up approach across the Public Service to support the best outcomes for New Zealanders, and in particular, communities in the Canterbury and Chatham Islands regions. By bringing together key players from around the motu, we will learn from each other and join resources to achieve positive outcomes for our whanau and communities .”

     

  • Steph Voight, Southland, Otago, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Ministry of Social Development Regional Commissioner

    Steph Voight standing in front of a tukutuku panel looking at the camera and smiling

    Steph is a proud Southerner, growing up in the small tāone of Kurow and now living in Ōtepoti.

    After graduating with a BA in Political Studies from the University of Otago, Steph moved to Wellington, where she joined Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development in the Kilbirnie Service Centre. This gave her true insight into MSD’s core role serving our whānau and hapori across the motu.

    She has held various leadership roles in the Southern and Wellington Regions, as well as MSD’s National Office — and has also been supported to gain an Executive Masters in Public Administration from Australia New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).

    Steph left MSD in 2019 to take up the role of Manager Justice Services at Te Tāhū o te Tūre | Ministry of Justice in Otago and South Canterbury. Working across the Justice Sector, supporting our judiciary and enabling greater access to justice in our hapori expanded her mind and passion for the spirit of Public Service even more.

    “The aronga of Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora and its values of manaaki, mahi tahi, whānau and tika me te pono resonate strongly with me personally and the RPSC kaupapa. I am committed to supporting our Māori hapori and cementing kotahitanga across Otago and Murihiku Southland and have a passion for growing the talent of our rangatahi to support kaitiakitanga.” 

  • Michelle Paki, Waikato, Te Pou Kōtui ā-Rohe o Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | Regional Public Service Commissioner

    Michelle (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata) has been a public servant since 2005, beginning her career with Te Puni Kōkiri as Manager for the Māori Business Facilitation Service Waikato.   In her current role as Director Māori, Kānoa Regional Economic and Development Unit at MBIE, Michelle sees the RPSC role as a fantastic opportunity to look at positive ways the public service can continue to improve the lives of the whanau and communities we serve.  Michelle will not only bring a "regional economic development" lens to the mahi, but her perspective as wahine Māori, a business owner supported by her experiences as a public servant.  Michelle is passionate about making a difference, trying new and innovative ways of doing things, underpinned by a collaborative approach that looks to leverage off our collective strengths. 

    Michelle is a busy Mum of 3, resides in Kirikiriroa and continues to grow her Buy Māori Made platform of over 165, 000 members which she created in 2020 as a response to COVID.