18 June 2013
New Statistics New Zealand Chief Executive appointed
State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, today announced the appointment of Liz MacPherson to the position of Chief
Executive of Statistics New Zealand and Government Statistician.
Ms MacPherson is currently Deputy Chief Executive, Strategy and Governance at the Ministry of Business Innovation and
Employment (MBIE). She has a key role in shaping MBIE’s strategy and direction and has responsibility for oversight of
the Government’s Business Growth agenda, MBIE’s Canterbury Economic Recovery work and the Crown-Maori Economic
Development Strategy and Action Plan.
“Ms MacPherson is a highly regarded Public Servant with 24 years’ experience including a decade working at senior
leadership level in MBIE, the former Department of Labour, and the former Ministry of Economic Development,” Mr Rennie
said.
“She has strong leadership skills with a proven ability to use data and research to inform her leadership decisions and
respond to challenges faced by her Department and the industries she works with,” said Mr Rennie.
“Statistics New Zealand manages New Zealand’s official statistics and is a vital source of information for government,
businesses and communities. Ms MacPherson’s strategic abilities and leadership skills will be of great benefit to the
agency as it continues with its change and modernisation programme, Statistics 2020,” Mr Rennie said.
Prior to her current role at MBIE, Ms MacPherson was Acting Chief Executive of MBIE’s Labour Group (the former
Department of Labour), Acting Chief Executive of the Ministry of Economic Development and held a number of Deputy
Secretary roles within the Ministry of Economic Development since 2002.
Statistics New Zealand is New Zealand’s national statistical office and its Chief Executive holds the statutory role of
Government Statistician. The agency is New Zealand's major source of official statistics and leader of the Official
Statistics System. It provides a wide range of statistical information used by central and local government, Māori,
businesses, communities, researchers, and the public.
Ms MacPherson will take up her new role on 26 August 2013. She has been appointed for a term of five years.
ENDS