Leith Comer, Chief Executive
Leith has led Te Puni Kōkiri (the Ministry of Māori Development) since 2001. Previously, Leith was the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development.
He has been a senior public servant for more than 10 years, gaining a broad and comprehensive knowledge of the machinery of government. He has extensive leadership experience in the military, the private and the community sectors and in local, national, and international environments.
Before joining the state sector, Leith participated in numerous Māori economic and social initiatives including; Chairperson for Lakeland Health Ltd, Te Ama Ltd Forestry Consortium, and Restaurant Brands Ltd.
Leith’s various community and voluntary governance positions included being a founding member of the Te Arawa Standing Committee on the Rotorua District Council and Chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rangitihi and Ruawāhia 2B Trust.
He is also a graduate from the US Army General Staff College where he received the Eisenhower Award for academic excellence as top foreign Student and eventually retired from military service as Lt Col of the Second First Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR).
Leith’s iwi affiliations are Ngāti Rangitihi, Te Arawa, Ngāti Mamoe, Ngāi Tahu, and Ngāti Pahauwera.
Te Puni Kōkiri has a critical, ongoing contribution to make to Māori development in New Zealand.
Part of this is the provision of high quality policy advice to the Minister of Māori Affairs, and supporting the government of the day in realising its vision for Māori.
But Te Puni Kōkiri also does a huge amount of work around New Zealand with individuals, groups and organisations that are helping Māori to realise their potential.
We do this by utilising our connections and contacts made in the community; with other government agencies; with local territorial authorities; and in the private sector. We cover the whole of the country through a network of local offices, based in 10 regions across Aotearoa.
These same connections also provide Te Puni Kōkiri and the Government with valuable feedback that helps refine policy settings and priorities.
This is very much a Māori approach based on building and maintaining strong relationships, meeting and talking face to face, and respecting differing viewpoints while trying to build consensus.
Te Puni Kōkiri sees itself at the centre of the state sector playing two important roles.
Firstly to ensure there is greater effectiveness for Māori from all parts of the sector, as well as playing a lead role to ensure appropriate relationships are forged between the Crown and Māori.
Both roles will require Te Puni Kōkiri to have both a National and regional presence.
Te Puni Kōkiri literally means a group moving forward together – and that is really what we are doing.
Last modified: 16/11/2011
