Former 'Rogernome' to lead public service

By RUTH BERRY, political reporter

The bureaucrat Helen Clark derided as an "apostle of the new right" before adopting him as her right-hand man is now set to become the country's top public servant.

State Services Minister Trevor Mallard announced yesterday that Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet chief executive Mark Prebble will be the new State Services Commissioner.

He will replace Michael Wintringham when he retires in May after seven years.

Dr Prebble, a career public servant, recently took three months' leave and Helen Clark said he would not give interviews on his new position until in the job.

His most prominent positions before gaining his present post in 1998 included deputy secretary to the Treasury and acting secretary to the Treasury.

His seniority in the Treasury during the economic reforms of the 1980s led to Helen Clark as Opposition Leader denouncing him as the "high priest of Rogernomics".

He was reappointed with her blessing in 2000.

Dr Prebble's desire to remain the archetypal invisible public servant was destroyed a year later when controversy erupted over his statements about former Work and Income chief executive Christine Rankin before the Employment Court.

"Every time she moved, I found I was having to see an embarrassing amount of her breast," Dr Prebble said.

He also admitted telling her the right colour for a public servant was grey and buying "from a chain store is always the safer option".

Last year he hit the headlines again during "Corngate" for failing to release crucial memos on GM during the election, which limited the attack on Helen Clark. They both admitted that had been a mistake.

The Prime Minister said yesterday that despite her 1998 comments "I have found him a very, very acute analyst of what happens on policy issues and he has been of invaluable assistance to me".

"I have made it clear that I would have been very happy for his appointment to continue to be rolled over. I have known for some time that he had an interest in this job and I would not discourage anyone from pursing their dream in a career. I'm very, very pleased for him."

But Opposition parties had reservations.

National MP Murray McCully said Dr Prebble's "partisan performance" in Corngate meant he would have a huge task ahead to rebuild National's confidence.

Act deputy leader Ken Shirley raised concerns about his roles in both the Corngate and Rankin affairs. He said Dr Prebble's "very close association" with Helen Clark would also create problems.

A statement by Dr Prebble said the public service was characterised by high integrity, commitment and performance. "As State Services Commissioner, I intend to maintain and continually improve the performance of the state sector."