Our people and structure
Our staff are located in our 10 regional offices, our Wellington head office, at our Marine Pollution Response Centre in Auckland and our Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand in Lower Hutt.
Our Director and Chief Executive Officer

Kirstie Hewlett
Kirstie Hewlett has the dual role of Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She is accountable to the Board of Directors.
As CEO, Kirstie is also the senior manager responsible for the day-to-day running of Maritime New Zealand.
Kirstie joined Maritime New Zealand in May 2021.
Executive Leadership Team
The Deputy Chief Executives report to Chief Executive Kirstie Hewlett and have specific responsibilities.
Sharyn Forsyth
Deputy Chief Executive - Partnerships
The Partnerships group fosters connection and partnerships across the organisation and across sectors, delivering evidence based programmes of work to ensure that Maritime NZ is maximising our impact to achieve a achieve a safe, secure and cleaner maritime domain. Core functions include communications, guidance and education, ministerial services, and harm prevention and engagement.
Peter Brunt
Deputy Chief Executive - Regulatory Frameworks
The Regulatory Frameworks group shapes the Maritime regulatory framework at the international and domestic level, provides operational policy and end-to-end development of the regulatory framework, provides advice on legal matters, and influences the wider policy framework that impacts on Maritime issues.
Deb Despard
Deputy Chief Executive – Regulatory Operations
The Regulatory Operations group aims to improve maritime safety and security and encourages the protection and preservation of our marine environment by promoting and ensuring compliance with maritime safety, international labour, and environmental rules and requirements, and workplace health and safety law as it relates to the maritime sector. Core functions include licensing, engaging and educating through audits and inspections and other compliance activity, and investigation and enforcement.
Nigel Clifford
Deputy Chief Executive – Response, Security and Safety Services
The Response, Security and Safety Services group is responsible for ensuring that Maritime NZ and our partners are ready to respond to major maritime incidents as effectively and efficiently as possible. This Group is also responsible for the day-to-day delivery of search and rescue coordination services through our Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ), providing the national Marine Pollution Response Service, looking after Aids to Navigation and the national maritime distress and safety communications services, supporting the delivery of maritime security at our commercial ports, and running the NZ Aid-funded Pacific Maritime Safety Programme.
Andrew Saunderson
Deputy Chief Executive, Organisational Strategy and Systems
The Organisational Strategy and Systems group provides organisational, strategic and systems leadership and support across key corporate and strategic functions including organisational strategy, finance property and procurement, planning performance and risk, information technology and systems, and research analysis and intelligence.
Kenny Crawford
Deputy Chief Executive, Technical Advice and Support
The Technical Advice and Support group provides high quality technical advice and support to key internal stakeholders and external delegated and authorised persons regarding international, domestic, maritime, environmental, and port and flag state control matters.
Anne Greenwood
Deputy Chief Executive, People Capability
The People Capability group manages the key functions of recruitment and learning and development, which underpin the continued development of Maritime NZ’s people capability, as well as a range of services and employee benefits that support Maritime NZ as an employer of choice and enhance our organisational culture.
For more information
Related information:
Careers centre
View our current vacancies, find out what it is like to work for MNZ and the diverse roles of those who work for us.
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