Remuneration Authority appointment

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced the appointment of Len Cook as a new member of the Remuneration Authority (the Authority).

The Authority is responsible for setting the rates of pay and allowances for Members of Parliament, the Judiciary and local authority members.

Len Cook replaces Angela Foulkes who has performed her duties admirably as a member of the Authority for eleven years.

“Len comes highly qualified for the role as an internationally respected professional statistician, with over 40 years of statistical, research and public policy knowledge,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“Len has also served on a range of public and academic boards and his broad experience will be invaluable to the Authority’s work.

“The Authority is a small but important team and we are fortunate to have such a high calibre individual joining the team. I wish Len well in his new role.”

Background information on appointee:

Len Cook was the National Statistician of the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2005 and the Government Statistician of New Zealand from 1992 to 2000. Prior to this, he worked in various roles at Statistics New Zealand from 1971, becoming Deputy Government Statistician in 1986. He was a member of the Royal Commission on Social Policy in 1987-88.

Mr Cook was appointed Families Commissioner in 2015 and Chair of the board of Superu. He is Past-President of the Institute of Public Administration. He is a member of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Board, and has served on a wide variety of boards.