Our Ministers and Governance

Our Ministers

Maritime NZ comes under the Government’s transport portfolio. Our Ministers are:

The Minister of Transport has delegated responsibilities for the maritime sector including oversight of Maritime NZ to the Associate Minister of Transport

Briefings list

As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, we proactively release titles of briefing papers provided to either of our Ministers.  We do this on a quarterly basis.

Chair, Dame Jo Brosnahan QSO

Jo is an experienced Chair and Director who is also Chair of Harrison Grierson Ltd. She was previously Chair or director of a variety of entities, including Northpower Fibre, Landcare Research and Housing NZ.

She develops and facilitates leadership and governance programmes, including for the Institute of Directors. Founder and founding Chair of Leadership New Zealand, she is now Chair of the Leadership NZ Ambassadors. She was also founding Chair of the Taitokerau Education Trust in Northland, supporting digital learning in low decile schools.

Beginning her career with railways and with the port industry, Jo was also CEO of the Northland and Auckland Regional Councils. She has experience in the port and maritime sectors, infrastructure, housing and urban development, transport, and environmental management.

She is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, of which she was national President. As a Harkness Fellow and Aspen Scholar, Jo researched leadership in the US.

Jo was appointed to the Maritime NZ Board in July 2018 and was appointed Chair in December 2018.

Deputy Chair, Kevin Short CNZM AO

Kevin Short (Air Marshal Rtd) brings nearly 50 years of leadership and operational experience from his career with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). He served as Chief of Defence Force from 2018 to 2024. In November 2024, Kevin became a Senior Manager at Lockheed Martin, focusing on growing the company’s business in New Zealand.

During Kevin’s early defence career, he served on No. 5 Squadron as a Navigator, Tactical Coordinator, Aircraft Captain, and Operations Flight Commander, accumulating over 5,000 flying hours on the Lockheed P-3K Orion aircraft. At senior levels, Kevin held various project, planning, and operational roles, including Senior National Officer and Commander of the NZ Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan, Afghanistan.

He was Deputy Chief of Air Force in 2011, Commander Joint Forces New Zealand in 2013, Vice Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force in 2014, and Chief of Defence Force from 2018 to 2024.

Danny Tuato'o

Danny is a Partner with MWIS Lawyers in Whangarei.

He has a particular interest in water safety and was the Chair of Water Safety New Zealand for five years until 2021. He has significant experience as a Chairperson, Director and trustee and is currently Deputy Chair of Fire and Emergency New Zealand and an independent advisor to the Northland Regional Council Audit and Risk subcommittee.

Danny is a Member of the Institute of Directors and was appointed to the Maritime NZ Board in August 2020.

Vivienne (Viv) Bull

Vivienne (Viv) Bull is an experienced organisational development leader with over 30 years in the public and private sectors. Her roles have spanned governance, senior leadership, and consultancy, with a consistent focus on people, culture, and leadership.

Viv is currently working with a diversified ahu whenua trust, ensuring the organisation has the capabilities, structures and systems to deliver its strategy and purpose for its owners and descendants.

Prior to that she served as an executive at Napier Port, where she spent 13 years on the senior leadership team. She led initiatives in organisational culture, health and safety, industrial relations, and strategic projects involving iwi engagement and sustainability. Her leadership emphasised creating a positive, high-performing workplace culture that supports long-term goals and prioritises the health and wellbeing of people.

Viv holds a Master of Science in Organisational Psychology. She is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Member of the NZ Institute of Directors, and has served as an independent member of the Heretaunga Tamatea Settlement Trust Audit and Risk Committee. In 2016, she was named Hawke’s Bay Business Leader of the Year.

Lesley Haines

Lesley has an extensive public sector background, including leadership of advisory and regulatory functions in the Treasury, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

As a director she serves on the board of BRANZ (Building Research Association of New Zealand), and as a trustee of Motu, New Zealand’s premier economic research organisation. Lesley holds a Master of Economics from Australian National University.