The person tasked to merge three agencies, roll out major reform and lead the country's newest ministry - the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport - will be Corrections' boss Jeremy Lightfoot.
The Ministry known as MCERT, which is set to merge the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Transport and local government functions from the Department of Internal Affairs, aims to be fully operational by July.
Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche said Lightfoot was "an impressive, experienced leader with a reputation for delivery".
“He understands how to get policy, funding and delivery working in step and has worked closely with councils, Māori and communities - experience that matters for the challenges the Ministry has been established to address.”
Lightfoot has been the chief executive of Corrections since 2020, first starting at the department in 2012.
Roche said the Ministry, "which will be up and running on 1 July, marks a significant change delivering an integrated planning, investment and regulatory system to improve environmental, housing and transport outcomes".
Announced last year, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said the aim of MCERT was to be "at the heart of tackling some of New Zealand’s greatest economic and environmental challenges".
It will also be rolling out major RMA and local government reform programmes in an election year. The expectation was for the new head to lead the agency amalgamation and roll out the reform swiftly.
The bosses of all three ministries - the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Transport - have since left their roles.
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