Business of Government: The chief executive log jam, Coster’s grenade and more

Barry O’Neil held the line, Andrew Coster blew it up and others took various positions around it. (Image: NZME/Jacques Steenkamp)

Ian Llewellyn

Wed, 10 Dec 2025

Let nothing you dismayThere is a certain quiet irony in watching multiple chief executive vacancies converge just as the constraints of purdah loom on the horizon.Purdah, for those not familiar with public sector jargon, is a short form of the constitutional convention for the pre-election period of restraint.The pre-election period is likely to begin mid-June 2026 this season, assuming a late September election. Combine this with the fact that quality appointments of this seniority require something in the order of six months to execute proper...

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