Murray Sherwin appointed to chair Productivity Commission

Tuesday 2nd November 2010

The director general of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Murray Sherwin, is to chair the soon-to-be-established New Zealand Productivity Commission, Finance Minister Bill English and Regulatory Reform Minister Rodney Hide announced today.

“Murray Sherwin is exceptionally well-placed to chair the new Productivity Commission. He has wide experience as a public servant, including senior roles at MAF and the Reserve Bank, and I look forward to working with him,” said English.

Hide said the Commission, which is expected to be operational by April, would help boost New Zealand’s economic performance across the public and private sectors.

“If we are to succeed in our ambition to significantly raise people’s living standards, then we must first advance policies to raise our productivity performance,” said Hide.

The Commission will have a wide ranging brief to inquire into productivity-related issues and will be modeled closely on the Australian Productivity Commission.

Sherwin, who is also chair of the Canterbury Earthquake Commission, will finish at MAF on November 19. His new appointment is subject to the successful passage of legislation and consent from the Governor General and will be for a five-year term.

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