John Belgrave
Encyclopedia
Maurice "John" Belgrave, DCNZM (31 August 1940 – 3 December 2007), was a senior public servant and Chief Ombudsman
of New Zealand
.
, and at Victoria University of Wellington
, where he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree in economics.
In 1976, Belgrave was posted to Tokyo as Minister and Senior Trade Commissioner, where he served for four years.
In 1980, he was assistant secretary of Trade and Industry, moving to Assistant Director-General in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1982.
as Secretary of Commerce, the successor department of the Department of Trade and Industry. During this time, the departmental responsibilities included competition policy, energy, consumer affairs, company regulation, tourism, information technology policy, minerals, and economic development.
In 1994, Belgrave was appointed by Hunn again as Secretary of Justice. Belgrave’s mandate included the division of the Department of Justice into a separate policy unit, the Ministry of Justice, and the separate departments of Courts and Corrections. Belgrave retained responsibility for the Ministry of Justice, while the Departments for Courts and Corrections were established into separate structures. As Secretary of Justice, Belgrave was a member of the Electoral Commission.
In 1997, Belgrave left the public sector again, to the post of executive director of the Electricity Supply Association, where he was responsible for the implementation and reorganisation of the energy sector, during Max Bradford
’s reforms of the electricity industry.
In 1999, Belgrave became Chairman of the Commerce Commission
, holding that post for two terms, before being appointed as Chief Ombudsman
in 2003.
Belgrave was Chairman of the Board of Victoria University's Institute of Policy Studies, and was a fellow of the Institute of Management, and the Institute of Directors.
In 2005, Belgrave, a former Justice Secretary, reviewed prisoner conditions at several prisons in New Zealand, following complaints about the prisoner treatment regime in prisons.
In 2007, Belgrave conducted an inquiry into the Department of Corrections' policy for transporting prisoners, following the murder of 17-year-old Liam Ashley
while being transported to Court in the back of a Corrections-contracted van. Belgrave described the Corrections' policy of transporting prisoners as "inhumane", and ordered a review of the prisoner transport system.
Belgrave died in office in December 2007.
"for public services lately as Chief Ombudsman".
New Zealand Chief Ombudsman
New Zealand's Chief Ombudsman is appointed by the Governor-General of New Zealand on recommendation of the House of Representatives to oversee investigation of complaints against government departments, and report, with recommendations, to Parliament.The post of Ombudsman was established in New...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Education
Belgrave was born in Rotorua, and educated at Sacred Heart College, AucklandSacred Heart College, Auckland
Sacred Heart College is a secondary school in Auckland, New Zealand. It is a Catholic, Marist College set on of land overlooking the Tamaki Estuary in Glen Innes.- History :The college was opened in 1903 in Ponsonby, by the Marist Brothers...
, and at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, where he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree in economics.
Early career
Belgrave joined the public service in 1964, joining the Department of Trade and Industry. Belgrave was posted to London, where he served as second secretary (commercial) at the High Commission for four years. Belgrave was promoted rapidly, and became Consul-General and Trade Commissioner in Melbourne in 1968. In 1973, Belgrave became Director of the Price and Stabilisation department in the Department of Trade and Industry, a key role responsible for monitoring commercial price controls in the then highly-regulated New Zealand economy.In 1976, Belgrave was posted to Tokyo as Minister and Senior Trade Commissioner, where he served for four years.
In 1980, he was assistant secretary of Trade and Industry, moving to Assistant Director-General in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1982.
Senior Public Servant
In 1985, Belgrave accepted his first of four postings as chief executive of a government department, as Comptroller of Customs. Belgrave left the public service in 1988 to become Chief Executive of the Bankers’ Association, before being wooed back in 1989 by State Services Commissioner Don HunnDon Hunn
Donald Kent Hunn CNZM is a senior New Zealand diplomat and civil servant. Hunn is the son of Sir Jack Hunn, a former Secretary of Defence, Maori Affairs, and Justice.-Education:...
as Secretary of Commerce, the successor department of the Department of Trade and Industry. During this time, the departmental responsibilities included competition policy, energy, consumer affairs, company regulation, tourism, information technology policy, minerals, and economic development.
In 1994, Belgrave was appointed by Hunn again as Secretary of Justice. Belgrave’s mandate included the division of the Department of Justice into a separate policy unit, the Ministry of Justice, and the separate departments of Courts and Corrections. Belgrave retained responsibility for the Ministry of Justice, while the Departments for Courts and Corrections were established into separate structures. As Secretary of Justice, Belgrave was a member of the Electoral Commission.
In 1997, Belgrave left the public sector again, to the post of executive director of the Electricity Supply Association, where he was responsible for the implementation and reorganisation of the energy sector, during Max Bradford
Max Bradford
Maxwell Robert Bradford is a former New Zealand politician and Cabinet Minister. He was an MP for the National Party from 1990 to 2002, and is known for introducing reforms to the electricity industry in 1998.-Early life:...
’s reforms of the electricity industry.
In 1999, Belgrave became Chairman of the Commerce Commission
Commerce Commission
The Commerce Commission is a New Zealand government agency charged with enforcing legislation that promotes competition in the country's markets and prohibits misleading and deceptive conduct by traders...
, holding that post for two terms, before being appointed as Chief Ombudsman
New Zealand Chief Ombudsman
New Zealand's Chief Ombudsman is appointed by the Governor-General of New Zealand on recommendation of the House of Representatives to oversee investigation of complaints against government departments, and report, with recommendations, to Parliament.The post of Ombudsman was established in New...
in 2003.
Belgrave was Chairman of the Board of Victoria University's Institute of Policy Studies, and was a fellow of the Institute of Management, and the Institute of Directors.
Chief Ombudsman
Belgrave was involved in several high-profile inquiries in his role as Chief Ombudsman. In 2005, Belgrave ordered that the Minister of Finance Michael Cullen must release the costings of the interest-free student loan policy prior to the election, after Cullen had refused to do so.In 2005, Belgrave, a former Justice Secretary, reviewed prisoner conditions at several prisons in New Zealand, following complaints about the prisoner treatment regime in prisons.
In 2007, Belgrave conducted an inquiry into the Department of Corrections' policy for transporting prisoners, following the murder of 17-year-old Liam Ashley
Murder of Liam Ashley
On 24 August 2006, George Charlie Baker, a prisoner from North Shore City, Auckland, fatally injured Liam Ashley, a 17-year old from North Shore in a New Zealand prison van...
while being transported to Court in the back of a Corrections-contracted van. Belgrave described the Corrections' policy of transporting prisoners as "inhumane", and ordered a review of the prisoner transport system.
Belgrave died in office in December 2007.
Personal life
Belgrave married Judith (Judy) Jenner in 1963. They had four daughters (one deceased) and one son. In the 2007 New Years Honour List, Belgrave was pronounced a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of MeritNew Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
"for public services lately as Chief Ombudsman".