Former Cabinet Secretary and Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff has been appointed as the next Chair of the Electoral Commission.

The Electoral Commission is the agency responsible for all areas of electoral administration in New Zealand including the running of parliamentary elections and referendums, promoting compliance with electoral laws, servicing the work of the Representation Commission and providing advice, reports and public education on all electoral matters.

“Ms Shroff has a proven track record of utter neutrality in a political environment at a senior level, which is exactly what is needed in this role,” says Justice Minister Andrew Little.

Wellington barrister Jane Meares has been appointed Deputy Chair of the Commission. The Deputy Chair position has been vacant following the resignation of Kristy McDonald QC in April 2019.

Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in October 1990, Ms Meares has been in practice as a barrister at Clifton Chambers since 2012 and was the Treasury Solicitor from November 2007 until she resigned in March 2011. She is currently the Chair of an independent Crown entity, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.