John Whitehead, Treasury Secretary, informed that three non-executive directors have been appointed on to the Treasury Board; the members providing advice to the Board would consist of private and community representatives.

The Treasury Secretary further stated that he would still be answerable to the State Services Commission and the Finance Minister.

The three members who have been appointed as non-executive members of the board include Joan Withers, Former Fairfax NZ Chief Exec., Chairwoman of Mighty River Power and Deputy Chairwoman of Television NZ, Susan Macken, Director, BNZ and Paul Baines who is a member of New Zealand School of Music and Institute of Economic Research Board.

Mr. Whitehead, who will continue to command the power to veto any of the advice provided by the board, also commended the three private board members for their great deal of governance and commercial wisdom.

Grant Robertson, Spokesman, Labour State Service, though questioned whether the board would remain to function in an impartial manner and also added that the current Government was fiddling with the neutral nature of the public sector.

It was further informed that Andrew Kibblewhite and Gabriel Makhlouf, Deputy Chief Executives of The Treasury, would be included on the board as well.