Business groups

The Ministry is organised into six business groups: Fisheries Policy, International, Fisheries Sciences, Fisheries Operations, Fisheries Compliance, and Corporate Services. The manager of each business group has responsibility to deliver on components of the Statement of Intent for which they are accountable including delivery of outputs, cost centre budget management and staff management.

Fisheries Policy Business Group

Mark Edwards – Manager Fisheries Policy

Mark Edwards joined the former Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1990 following completion of a Masters in Marine Science. He became a manager in the Fisheries Policy Section after it was established in 1991 and transferred to the position of Policy Manager with the establishment of the Ministry of Fisheries in 1995. In late 2000, he took up the position of Policy and Treaty Strategy Manager in the Ministry. Mark has chaired a wide range of domestic management forums with stakeholders and represented the Ministry in interdepartmental for a and with Ministers and Select Committees. In addition Mark regularly led delegations representing New Zealand at international for a in previous roles.

The Fisheries Policy business group has 13 staff and is based in Wellington and Nelson. The work of the group includes policy development, legislative change, and strategic planning.

The work programme focuses on:

fisheries reforms to enhance the management of, and value obtained from, New Zealand fisheries, including environmental performance, allocation and sector engagement, and adding value to fisheries sectors
fisheries outcomes, monitoring and reporting
marine resource management including Oceans Policy and other multi-departmental and wholeof- government initiatives
Treaty settlements

International Business Group

Jane Willing – Manager International

Jane Willing joined the former Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1991 and has managed various teams including Maori Fisheries, Aquaculture, Biosecurity and Recreational fisheries. Since 1992 Jane has managed the International Fisheries team. In this capacity she has led a number of New Zealand delegations in international negotiations, and chaired several FAO and OECD workshops and meetings. Jane has a degree in International Relations and Political Science, and is a Harvard Executive Fellow. Before joining the Ministry she held positions in Parliamentary Services in specialist areas of International Relations and Defence

The International business group has 7 staff and is based in Wellington. This business group works in the areas of international strategy, policy development and access. The group is also involved in international treaties and frameworks, and developing country assistance. The aim of the group is to promote sustainable use of international fisheries through the establishment of robust governance arrangements and management regimes for fisheries resources beyond New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone.

The work programme promotes and protects New Zealand's fisheries interests through engagement in:

regional fisheries management organisations and other international management arrangements, such the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), and the South Tasman Rise (STR)
international advisory institutions (e.g. The fisheries committees or working groups of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the United Nations, and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Fisheries Sciences Business Group

Steve Kelly – National Manager Fisheries Sciences

Steve has recently been appointed to the position of National Manager Fisheries Sciences. He joined the Ministry at the beginning of 2005 as manager of the fisheries Observer Services team.
Prior to joining the Ministry, Steve worked for Fonterra where he was based mainly in the Middle East and Asia. His initial roles with the company were in sales and marketing. Later he took up positions with the Operating Company and in Regional Management. On his return to New Zealand Steve assumed responsibility for the Fonterra supply chain team responsible for the technical and logistical servicing of Fonterra's global ingredients customers. Steve has extensive commercial experience including organisational process design and financial management.

The Fisheries Science business group consists of four units: Fisheries Science, Research Data Management, Observers and a yet-to-be-established Socio-Economics Team. The Science Team currently has 14 scientists on staff located in Wellington and Nelson; they are primarily responsible for planning and conducting scientific research, coordinating and chairing stock assessment and environmental impact meetings, and providing scientific advice to inform Fisheries Operations, Fisheries Policy, Compliance and International fisheries. The primary function of the Fisheries Research Data Management group is to ensure that high quality scientific data is available to those responsible for providing advice on the sustainability of fisheries resources. This group currently has 10 staff that work on managing Ministry of Fisheries scientific data, which includes Catch- Effort, Observer, Geo-spatial, Biosecurity, Research and Reference data. The group also supplies marine biosecurity data management services to MAF through to June 2007. The Observer Programme has eight permanent shore-based staff and approximately 50 observers engaged on fixed-term contracts to provide at-sea observer coverage.

The current research programme focuses on:

maintaining the stock assessment programmes for the major deepwater and inshore commercial stocks (hoki, hake, ling, orange roughy, oreos, snapper and rock lobster).
stock monitoring for many other target and bycatch species, dispersed amongst 13 Working Groups that each meet several times throughout the year.
estimation of recreational harvest levels for priority stocks (e.g. Snapper, tarakihi, kahawai) .
research into the effects of fishing on marine ecosystems (including seamounts) and protected species (seabirds and marine mammals).
biodiversity research in New Zealand and the Ross Sea.

The Ministry's Chief Scientist heads the Fisheries Science Team and is also a member of the Senior Management Team.

Pamela Mace – Chief Scientist

Pamela has been involved in the field of fisheries science for more than 25 years. She spent nine years studying and working in Canada, where she earned a PhD from the University of British Columbia. Pamela returned to New Zealand in 1986 for two years (1986-88) in time to be involved in the scientific aspects of implementation of the QMS, and then spent 15 years in the United States working in fisheries in various capacities. Her last position there was the National Stock Assessment Coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Service. She joined the Ministry as Special Projects Scientist in February 2004, and was promoted to Chief Scientist in February 2005. Pamela's main areas of expertise are fish stock assessments, the development and implementation of fisheries harvest strategies, ecosystem approaches to fisheries and the development of criteria for defining species at risk.

Fisheries Operations Business Group

Jonathan Peacey – National Manager Fisheries Operations

Jonathan was appointed to this position in early September 2005. He has worked in the fisheries sector for over 20 years in a range of roles including fisheries manager in the Ministry's Dunedin Office, Assistant General Manager of the New Zealand Fishing Industry Board, Acting Science Manager of the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council, Fisheries Director of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), based in London and, most recently, as Chief Policy Analyst with the Ministry of Fisheries. He also worked with the Ministry of Fisheries Establishment Unit in 1994 and has worked as a consultant for a wide range of fisheries clients. He has worked on a wide range of projects including implementation of the Quota Management System, designing and implementing the rock lobster tail width gauge, writing the Seafood Industry Foresight Strategy, chairing the National Rock Lobster Advisory Group, refining the MSC assessment methodology, and developing the Ministry's Strategy for Managing the Environmental Effects of Fishing.

The Fisheries Operations business group has 81 staff, located in Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and Dunedin. This business group provides a wide range of baseline fisheries services. The Pou Hononga (described below) and extension support capacity are also part of the fisheries operations business group.

The current work programme includes:

development and evaluation of fisheries plans
the bi-annual review of fisheries sustainability and other management controls measures
introduction of new fish stocks into the QMS
establishing and supporting the regional iwi forums
establishing and supporting the regional recreational advisory groups
implementing the Fiordland marine resource management plan
application of the customary fishing regulations, including appointment of kaitiaki, and establishment of mätaitai, taiapure, and temporary closed areas
marine reserve concurrence
biosecurity advice
managing the cost recovery process
managing and monitoring devolved and contracted registry services
aquaculture, including marine and freshwater farm permit decisions and implementation of the aquaculture reforms.

Fisheries Compliance Business Group

Steve Stuart – National Manager Fisheries Compliance

Steve joined the Ministry in 1992 in Nelson after a 14-year career in the New Zealand Police.
Since 1992 he has held various fisheries compliance management positions including District Compliance Manager, Manager of the Serious Offences Unit, and National Operations Manager.
Steve has a business studies diploma and a Masters degree (with Distinction) in business management from Massey University, and has worked on secondment with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The Fisheries Compliance business group has 180 staff including Fisheries Officers and Fisheries Prosecutors. The group has District offices in Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill. There are local offices in Chatham Islands, Hamilton, Kaitaia, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Blenheim, Masterton, Opotiki, and Whitianga. The group provides enforcement services—including fisheries surveillance, investigation and prosecutions—as well as education and liaison services. The group is also responsible for management and training of the Honorary Fisheries Officers.

Fisheries Compliance has recently undergone a change process to better align the group to deliver compliance services consistent with fisheries management goals and objectives. The management structure has moved from a district and regional focus to national management of functional groups. In support of the alignment a new Compliance strategy is being developed together with 5year sector plans underpinned by a risk based approach linked to fisheries management objectives.

The current work programme includes:

increased effort to enforce and promote compliance with recreational fishing rules
increased targeting of poaching and black market activities—including a multi-agency approach to protect paua and rock lobster stocks
enforcement of commercial, customary and international fishing rules, including monitoring, investigation, and recommendations to prosecute
prosecutions, including case preparation and management of forfeit property
maintaining a Ministry/Industry compliance committee to resolve generic compliance issues
maintaining strong working relationships with New Zealand Defence Forces and other enforcement agencies
increased effort in ensuring the health and safety of Fisheries Officers in their work environment.

Corporate Services Business Group

Peter Murray – General Manager Corporate Services

Peter joined the Ministry in 1999 and has since led work on a number of major corporate projects including the outsourcing of registry services, cost recovery, and most recently implementation of the Aquaculture Settlement obligations. Prior to joining the Ministry, Peter held executive responsibility for corporate functions in the Wellington Area Health Board, then Capital Coast Heath limited. Prior to this Peter held numerous roles in IBM New Zealand and IBM Australia, P&O Shipping and Deloittes. Peter graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in the mid 1970's with a BCA, and is a Chartered Accountant. He is currently studying for an EMPA with the ANZSoG and is a member of the LDC Executive Leadership Programme.

The Corporate Services Business Group has 104 staff. This business group manages all support groups and has responsibility for delivering legal, financial and information services within the Ministry. Other responsibilities include corporate monitoring, as well as the management and administration of corporate resources.

In July 2005 a new team was established within Corporate Services to provide an integrated support unit for the Chief Executive. This is to enable improvements to be made in the way the Minister's office is supported through ministerial servicing, relationship management with Government and key stakeholders, and provision of significantly enlarged external communications capability. The Manager External Relations is a member of the Senior Management Team.

Peter Burke – Manager External Relations

Peter joined the Ministry in July 2005. His role is primarily to manage the External Relations unit with a particular emphasis on ensuring that the Minister, tangata whenua and all Ministry stakeholders are consulted and communicated with effectively.

Peter has been a communications manager since 1988 in both local and central government. He has previously worked at the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FORST), and the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA). A former television agricultural journalist and editor of the Radio New Zealand's rural team, he is also a life member of the New Zealand Guild of Agricultural Journalists.

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Updated : 16 November 2007