Mark Prebble


Mark Prebble is a former New Zealand civil servant. He was the State Services Commissioner, head of New Zealand's public service from May 2004 until 30 June 2008. On 25 January 2008, Prebble announced his retirement after 32 years in the Public Service.

Early life and education

Prebble was born in Auckland, New Zealand, the youngest son of Kenneth Prebble, a one-time vicar of St Paul's Church, Auckland, who later became Archdeacon of Hauraki. His mother was Mary. He has five siblings, two brothers are former Labour Cabinet Minister and ACT Party leader Richard Prebble and Victoria University Law Professor John Prebble.
Prebble was educated at the University of Auckland, where he graduated with an MA in Economics, and at Victoria University of Wellington, where he earned a doctorate in public policy. Prebble tutored economics at Auckland and Wellington.

Career

Prebble joined the Treasury in 1977, rising to Deputy Secretary of the Department, and acted as Acting Secretary twice. While in non-executive roles at the Treasury, he was an organiser for the Public Service Association, the principal trade union for public servants.
In 1998, Prebble became Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, succeeding Simon Murdoch. At the time, Labour Opposition leader Helen Clark criticised the appointment, describing Prebble as an "apostle of the New Right". Upon winning the 1999 election, however, Clark reappointed Prebble to the role, and is understood to have worked closely with him. While Secretary Prebble received publicity for describing Work and Income New Zealand chief executive Christine Rankin's clothes as "indecent". He was involved in the Corngate affair, for not releasing four documents after Clark ordered all official papers to be released during the 2002 election campaign.
In 2004, Prebble was appointed State Services Commissioner, as the head of New Zealand's public service, succeeding Michael Wintringham. He was involved in investigations into the dismissal of the Environment ministry communications manager Madeleine Setchell, which led to the resignation of Environment Minister David Benson-Pope. Prebble docked himself 2.5 percent of his own pay over the dismissal, after an inquiry found Prebble forgot to mention a conversation he had with Benson-Pope.

Personal life

Prebble's first wife died in a blizzard on Aoraki / Mount Cook. He remarried, and has two sons and two daughters.

Honours

In the 2009 New Year Honours, Prebble was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for public services.