Media Release
24th November 2006

New Edition of the New Zealand Government Directory Now Published

The 22nd edition of The New Zealand Government Directory has been released today.

The Directory 2007is a comprehensive guide to Government in New Zealandand contains contact details and brief biographical notes and photography of all 120 MPs, together with an outline of their current parliamentary responsibilities.

It includes Select Committee membership lists as well as senior personnel and contact details for government departments and official organisations - all 272 of them - from the Arts Board to the Youth Development Ministry.

Published by public relations consultancy Network PR, the New Zealand Government Directory has become iconic in its field.

Network PR’s Wellington General Manager Geoff Henley says the directory’s continued publication demonstrates that people still prefer material ina hard copy form, which is convenient and easy to use, despite the proliferation of web-based resources. Indeed, sales of Network’s hard copy directory far outstripits online version.

Network PR first published its Government Directory 17 years ago, in April 1989, when the late Rt Hon David Lange was Prime Minister, Sir Geoffrey Palmer his deputy, and Dr Michael Bassett, Colin Moyle and Koro Wetere were numbered among his Cabinet.

Three Ministers from that line-up feature in the 2007 publication –Prime Minister Helen Clark, ranked 8th in 1989, Phil Goff, 13th, and Dr Michael Cullen, 16th.

The National Opposition was lead by Jim Bolger, and only three members of his shadow cabinet remain in Parliament - Winston Peter ranked 8th in National’s line-up, Dr Lockwood Smith, 15th, and Maurice Williamson 29th.

There werea total of 97 seats in Parliament, 57 held by labour and 40 by National.

The first directory included Don Brash as Governor of the ReserveBank, Dr Rod Dean as Chief Executive of Electricorp, and Beverley Wakem, now an Ombudsman, as the Chief Executive of Radio NZ.

The 12th NZ Government Directory, published in 1997, took a step up in size when Parliament went MMP with 120 MPs. The publication of that directory was delayed for several months following the election because of the need to wait for crucial information including Cabinet and Select Committee membership lists.

Rt Hon Jim Bolger was the prime Minister, with Winston Peter, from the New Zealand First Party, his deputy.

Comparisons between Network PR’s first directory and the 22nd highlightthe transience of politics, but the environment appears even tougher for the Government’s senior private secretaries. None continues in the same role today. Heather Simpson was listed as an Executive Assistant to Helen Clark in 1989, and although she does not feature in the latest directory, she continues to play a major role in Parliament.

On the opposition side, Rob Eaddy and Wayne Eagelson, who were listed in 1989 as the Executive Assistant and Private Secretary respectively to Opposition Leader Jim Bolger, are listed in the 2007 Directory as chief of staff at United Future, and chief of staff to Don Brash.

Ends

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