Former hockey player appointed as new Secretary for Environment

From left: Treasury Health team manager Ben McBride, Health team member Erin King, Deputy Chief Executive Vicky Robertson and Dr Lance O'Sullivan. Photo / Petrina Hodgson

A former New Zealand hockey player has been appointed to help head Government efforts to manage the environment and natural resources.

State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie has announced the appointment of Vicky Robertson as Secretary for the Environment and Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment.

Ms Robertson is currently the deputy chief executive and chief operating officer at Treasury.
The trained lawyer represented New Zealand in hockey and was seconded to the United Nations Development Programme in New York in 2010, where she led a review of the organisation.

"I am very pleased to appoint Vicky Roberston to this important role, which is vital to the management of New Zealand's environment and natural resources," Mr Rennie said.

Ms Robertson has been appointed for a five year team from June 2. Mark Sowden will remain as acting chief executive until then.

The Ministry for the Environment is the Government's primary advisor on laws, regulations and policies that set the framework for New Zealand's environmental management.