Rebecca Kitteridge fills in as head of PM’s department

Rebecca Kitteridge – heading to the Beehive. (Image: Getty)

Mon, 27 Mar 2023

Long-time senior public servant Rebecca Kitteridge is holding the reins at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet while chief executive Brook Barrington takes leave for family reasons.Kitteridge was appointed to the statutory role of deputy public service commissioner in November after serving as head of the Security Intelligence Service (SIS).The CEO of Land Information NZ, Gaye Searancke, has been seconded to backfill Kitteridge’s role at the commission.Last week, the Public Service Commission (PSC) announced that Kitteridge&rsquo...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Markets Market Close

Ebos unwind pulls NZX 50 down 0.68%

Spark New Zealand rose 1.72% to $2.27.

Gregor Thompson 22 Sep 2025

Primary Sector

a2 Milk execs sell over $6 million in shares

Chief executive David Bortolussi holds 1.52 million a2 Milk shares.

Graham Skellern 22 Sep 2025

a2 Milk execs sell over $6 million in shares

Technology

'Don't build': Govt centralises IT procurement

More off-the-shelf solutions are likely under a new centralisation of IT procurement.

Dileepa Fonseka 22 Sep 2025

'Don't build': Govt centralises IT procurement

Sponsored

AI agents: opportunity or graveyard? Spark’s five-point playbook for success

Artificial intelligence agents – autonomous digital entities that analyse data, automate decisions, and act independently – are set to drive a new wave of business transformation.

Spark Enterprise

Sponsored

Future leaders start by Dreaming Big

How OnBeingBold empowers Year 13 girls at free leadership events.

OnBeingBold

More Politics

News in Brief

Wrightson stepping down as retirement commissioner next year

Jane Wrightson, who believes the age for national superannuation should remain at 65, is stepping down as the country’s retirement commissioner early next year, after serving two terms.Wrightson has led the commission for nearly six years, overseeing research, policy advice on re...

Staff reporters 22 Sep 2025