Don Hunn
Encyclopedia
Donald Kent Hunn CNZM
(born Wellington 26 December 1934) is a senior New Zealand diplomat and civil servant. Hunn is the son of Sir Jack Hunn
, a former Secretary of Defence, Maori Affairs, and Justice.
and Victoria University of Wellington
, where he earned a Master of Arts in History. He worked initially at the Public Trust
.
in 1957. During the 1960s and 1970s, he had diplomatic postings in Washington, D.C.
, Suva
, Kuala Lumpur
and Brussels
, and opened New Zealand's embassy in Chile
. In 1976, Hunn became New Zealand's first resident High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga. In 1980, Hunn was appointed Deputy High Commissioner to Canberra
.
. At the time, the State Services Commission
comprised the Chairman, and three commissioners. In 1986, Hunn succeeded Roderick Deane
as chief commissioner, and head of New Zealand's public service. In 1989, after a change in the legislation (specifically the State Sector Act 1988
), Hunn became the sole commissioner.
During his time as SSC, Hunn was responsible for a major reorginatisation of the public service with the introduction of the State Sector Act 1988. This involved transforming the State Services Commission
into the organisation responsible for selecting, employing, and managing the performance of government departmental chief executives, and providing oversight for the performance of the state sector as a whole.
Hunn retired from the public service in 1997.
. He also conducted a range of consulting assignments for foreign governments,as well as the New Zealand government,
around state sector reform.
Hunn has been appointed to chair numerous New Zealand government reviews and inquiries, including the 1999 review of the activities of the Department of Work and Income, a review of "leaky building sydrome", the review of the 1999 General Election, the review of the organisation of Defence Services in New Zealand, among many others.
Hunn is presently a Fellow of the Victoria University School of Government, and a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Public Administration. He sits on the board of New Zealand Ballet.
In August 2007, State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble
appointed Hunn to investigate the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Madeleine Setchell from the Ministry for the Environment, following allegations that Environment Minister David Benson-Pope
used political influence to have her removed from her position.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born Wellington 26 December 1934) is a senior New Zealand diplomat and civil servant. Hunn is the son of Sir Jack Hunn
Jack Hunn
Sir Jack Kent Hunn KCMG was a New Zealand civil servant. Hunn served as Secretary of Defence, Secretary of Maori Affairs, Secretary of Justice, and Chairman of the Fire Service Commission.-Early life:...
, a former Secretary of Defence, Maori Affairs, and Justice.
Education
Hunn attended Wellington CollegeWellington College (New Zealand)
Wellington College is a state secondary school for boys in Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand.-History:Wellington College opened in 1867 as Wellington Grammar School in Woodward Street, though Sir George Grey gave the school a deed of endowment in 1853. In 1874 it opened at its present...
and Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, where he earned a Master of Arts in History. He worked initially at the Public Trust
Public Trustee (New Zealand)
The Public Trustee of New Zealand was a government appointed corporation sole providing Trustee services to those unwilling to use private services, or required by the courts or legislation to use the Public Trustee...
.
Diplomatic career
Hunn joined the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign AffairsNew Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the New Zealand Government ministry responsible for promoting New Zealand's interests in trade and international relations....
in 1957. During the 1960s and 1970s, he had diplomatic postings in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, and opened New Zealand's embassy in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. In 1976, Hunn became New Zealand's first resident High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga. In 1980, Hunn was appointed Deputy High Commissioner to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
State Services Commissioner
Hunn returned to New Zealand in 1982 as a State Services CommissionerState Services Commissioner
The State Services Commissioner is the chief executive of New Zealand's State Services Commission and has a range of responsibilities for the Public Service, the State Services and the wider state sector...
. At the time, the State Services Commission
State Services Commission
The State Services Commission , formerly the Public Service Commission, is a central government agency within the New Zealand government. The current State Services Commissioner is Iain Rennie...
comprised the Chairman, and three commissioners. In 1986, Hunn succeeded Roderick Deane
Roderick Deane
Roderick Sheldon "Rod" Deane is a New Zealand economist, public sector reformer, and businessman. He has served as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and as CEO and chairman of the country's largest telecommunications company, Telecom New Zealand.-Education:Deane grew up in...
as chief commissioner, and head of New Zealand's public service. In 1989, after a change in the legislation (specifically the State Sector Act 1988
State Sector Act 1988
The State Sector Act 1988 defines what constitutes the State sector organisations in New Zealand. It substantially reshaped the shape of the Public service and to some extent its culture. It grants Ministers some role in the appointments of departmental chief executives.-External links:*...
), Hunn became the sole commissioner.
During his time as SSC, Hunn was responsible for a major reorginatisation of the public service with the introduction of the State Sector Act 1988. This involved transforming the State Services Commission
State Services Commission
The State Services Commission , formerly the Public Service Commission, is a central government agency within the New Zealand government. The current State Services Commissioner is Iain Rennie...
into the organisation responsible for selecting, employing, and managing the performance of government departmental chief executives, and providing oversight for the performance of the state sector as a whole.
Hunn retired from the public service in 1997.
Retirement
In his retirement, Hunn was appointed Chairman of New Zealand on AirNew Zealand On Air
NZ On Air is an independent New Zealand broadcast funding agency. It is an autonomous crown entity separate from central Government and governed by a Board of six appointed by the Minister of Broadcasting...
. He also conducted a range of consulting assignments for foreign governments,as well as the New Zealand government,
around state sector reform.
Hunn has been appointed to chair numerous New Zealand government reviews and inquiries, including the 1999 review of the activities of the Department of Work and Income, a review of "leaky building sydrome", the review of the 1999 General Election, the review of the organisation of Defence Services in New Zealand, among many others.
Hunn is presently a Fellow of the Victoria University School of Government, and a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Public Administration. He sits on the board of New Zealand Ballet.
In August 2007, State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble
Mark Prebble
Mark Prebble CNZM is a former New Zealand civil servant. He was the State Services Commissioner, head of New Zealand's public service from May 2004 until 30 June 2008...
appointed Hunn to investigate the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Madeleine Setchell from the Ministry for the Environment, following allegations that Environment Minister David Benson-Pope
David Benson-Pope
David Henry Benson-Pope is a New Zealand Labour Party politician who sat in the Parliament of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008. He formerly served as a cabinet minister....
used political influence to have her removed from her position.