NZ Government Executive - Population Conference

Judge Mick Brown
Judge Brown was formerly the Principal Youth Court Judge of New Zealand, is to chair the Population Conference. Judge Brown is at present the Adjunct Professor of Law at Waikato University, and was Chancellor of Auckland University from 1986 to 1991. He brings to the role a lifetime of experience and service to New Zealand and its people of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to his legal career, Judge Brown has served on numerous sporting, charitable, community and educational bodies.
Rt Hon. Jim Bolger
Mr Bolger has been Prime Minister since October 1990. Under his leadership the New Zealand economy has been transformed from having the lowest growth rate among the 29 OECD nations, to today having one of the strongest. New Zealand is now recognised as being among the most competitive economies in the world and as such, has attracted world interest in economics and immigration. Mr Bolger's administration has pursued an outward-looking foreign policy to strengthen New Zealand's relationships with other countries, particularly in the Asia/Pacific region. This conference is of particular interest to Mr Bolger as following the 1978 election, Mr Bolger was appointed Minister of Labour and Minister of Immigration and retains a close interest in the international movement of people, cultures and economics.
Hon. Winston Peters
Mr Peters was born in Whangarei, one of eleven children. He has a BA (History/Political Studies), and an LLB from Auckland University. He is a former teacher and a barrister and solicitor. He is a former Auckland University and Maori rugby representative. His recreational interests include sport, reading, fishing and ski-ing. He led 15 NZ First MPs into the House in 1996. Mr Peters has since 1984 represented one of the fastest growing districts in the country. Last year's census shows Tauranga's district population grew 16.5% between 1991 and 1996 compared with nation-wide growth of 7.2%. Over the next 25 years, the Tauranga district's population is expected to rise dramatically to about 120,000 - a jump of 50%.
Hon Max Bradford
Mr Bradford became Minister of Immigration, Labour, Energy and Business Development in December 1996. As Immigration Minister, a key focus of Mr Bradford's portfolio is to ensure that immigration makes a positive contribution to New Zealand's economy, international competitiveness, society and cultural diversity. The Population Conference is an important step towards that goal, and Mr Bradford has taken an active role in its organisation. Mr Bradford represents Rotorua and its surrounding district - an area with a strong Maori population, tradition and culture. A career in economics, finance and employment preceded Mr Bradford's entry into Parliament in 1990
Len Cook Len Cook is Government Statistician, Statistics New Zealand. Mr Cook joined the Department of Statistics in 1971, rising to his present position in 1992. He was also a member of the Royal Commission on Social Policy in 1987/88. Mr Cook has been involved in a wide range of issues in bringing statistics to bear in business, government and community decision-making. He has a particular interest in social policy, superannuation, taxation, demography, statistical methodology, marketing and the application of information technology to information issues.
Dr. Jim Smith James Smith holds the RAND chair in Labour Markets and Demographic Studies at RAND - a Californian based non-profit institution focused on public policy issues. Dr Smith (PhD University of Chicago 1972) chaired the National Academy of Sciences' Panel on Demographic and Economic Impacts of Immigration, 1995-1997. The panel's recent report is the most comprehensive review of the consequences of immigration ever undertaken in the United States. Dr Smith's published work also covers issues relating to ageing, health and retirement, women in the labour market and long-term savings.
Prof. Ian Pool Ian Pool is Professor of Demography and Director of the Population Studies Centre at the University of Waikato. Professor Pool (PhD Australian National University 1964) lived overseas for 17 years, returning to New Zealand in 1978 to his present position. His recent work has mainly been research on population change in New Zealand in relation to social and economic policy. He frequently acts as a consultant to the United Nations and other agencies on population and development issues.
Prof. Richard Bedford
Richard Bedford is Professor of Geography at the University of Waikato. Professor Bedford (PhD Australian National University 1971) has focused his work on the field of international migration, particularly in relation to Pacific Island peoples and their migration to and from New Zealand. He has also undertaken various research and consultancy contracts in the Pacific. He was a member of the New Zealand Planning Council and is currently Convenor of the Royal Society of New Zealand's National Committee for Geography.
Paula Rebstock
Paula Rebstock was born in the United States, and after studying at the University of Oregon, worked in the private sector in the U.S. She then studied at the London School of Economics, before moving to New Zealand in 1988. Prior to joining the Department of Labour as General Manager, Policy, she was with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and before that, The Treasury. She has chaired or been a member of a number of major governmental committees and task forces, including employment policy, tax and benefit reform and immigration.
SIR Tipene O'Regan
Sir Tipene has been heavily involved in Maori and development issues for the past 30 years. He has been particularly involved in the development and re-capitalisation of his own Ngai Tahu people. His primary focus has been on economic, cultural and resource management aspects of Maori participation in New Zealand society. He currently leads the Ngai Tahu-Crown Treaty settlement negotiations and Chairs the Ngai Tahu Holding Corporation, Sealord Group Ltd, and the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission. He teaches History at the University of Canterbury where he holds the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters.

	Judge Mick Brown Judge Brown was formerly the Principal Youth Court Judge of New Zealand, is to chair the Population Conference. Judge Brown is at present the Adjunct Professor of Law at Waikato University, and was Chancellor of Auckland University from 1986 to 1991. He brings to the role a lifetime of experience and service to New Zealand and its people of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to his legal career, Judge Brown has served on numerous sporting, charitable, community and educational bodies.
	Rt Hon. Jim Bolger Mr Bolger has been Prime Minister since October 1990. Under his leadership the New Zealand economy has been transformed from having the lowest growth rate among the 29 OECD nations, to today having one of the strongest. New Zealand is now recognised as being among the most competitive economies in the world and as such, has attracted world interest in economics and immigration. Mr Bolger's administration has pursued an outward-looking foreign policy to strengthen New Zealand's relationships with other countries, particularly in the Asia/Pacific region. This conference is of particular interest to Mr Bolger as following the 1978 election, Mr Bolger was appointed Minister of Labour and Minister of Immigration and retains a close interest in the international movement of people, cultures and economics.
	Hon. Winston Peters Mr Peters was born in Whangarei, one of eleven children. He has a BA (History/Political Studies), and an LLB from Auckland University. He is a former teacher and a barrister and solicitor. He is a former Auckland University and Maori rugby representative. His recreational interests include sport, reading, fishing and ski-ing. He led 15 NZ First MPs into the House in 1996. Mr Peters has since 1984 represented one of the fastest growing districts in the country. Last year's census shows Tauranga's district population grew 16.5% between 1991 and 1996 compared with nation-wide growth of 7.2%. Over the next 25 years, the Tauranga district's population is expected to rise dramatically to about 120,000 - a jump of 50%.
	Hon Max Bradford Mr Bradford became Minister of Immigration, Labour, Energy and Business Development in December 1996. As Immigration Minister, a key focus of Mr Bradford's portfolio is to ensure that immigration makes a positive contribution to New Zealand's economy, international competitiveness, society and cultural diversity. The Population Conference is an important step towards that goal, and Mr Bradford has taken an active role in its organisation. Mr Bradford represents Rotorua and its surrounding district - an area with a strong Maori population, tradition and culture. A career in economics, finance and employment preceded Mr Bradford's entry into Parliament in 1990
	Len Cook Len Cook is Government Statistician, Statistics New Zealand. Mr Cook joined the Department of Statistics in 1971, rising to his present position in 1992. He was also a member of the Royal Commission on Social Policy in 1987/88. Mr Cook has been involved in a wide range of issues in bringing statistics to bear in business, government and community decision-making. He has a particular interest in social policy, superannuation, taxation, demography, statistical methodology, marketing and the application of information technology to information issues.
	Dr. Jim Smith James Smith holds the RAND chair in Labour Markets and Demographic Studies at RAND - a Californian based non-profit institution focused on public policy issues. Dr Smith (PhD University of Chicago 1972) chaired the National Academy of Sciences' Panel on Demographic and Economic Impacts of Immigration, 1995-1997. The panel's recent report is the most comprehensive review of the consequences of immigration ever undertaken in the United States. Dr Smith's published work also covers issues relating to ageing, health and retirement, women in the labour market and long-term savings.
	Prof. Ian Pool Ian Pool is Professor of Demography and Director of the Population Studies Centre at the University of Waikato. Professor Pool (PhD Australian National University 1964) lived overseas for 17 years, returning to New Zealand in 1978 to his present position. His recent work has mainly been research on population change in New Zealand in relation to social and economic policy. He frequently acts as a consultant to the United Nations and other agencies on population and development issues.
	Prof. Richard Bedford Richard Bedford is Professor of Geography at the University of Waikato. Professor Bedford (PhD Australian National University 1971) has focused his work on the field of international migration, particularly in relation to Pacific Island peoples and their migration to and from New Zealand. He has also undertaken various research and consultancy contracts in the Pacific. He was a member of the New Zealand Planning Council and is currently Convenor of the Royal Society of New Zealand's National Committee for Geography.
	Paula Rebstock Paula Rebstock was born in the United States, and after studying at the University of Oregon, worked in the private sector in the U.S. She then studied at the London School of Economics, before moving to New Zealand in 1988. Prior to joining the Department of Labour as General Manager, Policy, she was with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and before that, The Treasury. She has chaired or been a member of a number of major governmental committees and task forces, including employment policy, tax and benefit reform and immigration.
	SIR Tipene O'Regan Sir Tipene has been heavily involved in Maori and development issues for the past 30 years. He has been particularly involved in the development and re-capitalisation of his own Ngai Tahu people. His primary focus has been on economic, cultural and resource management aspects of Maori participation in New Zealand society. He currently leads the Ngai Tahu-Crown Treaty settlement negotiations and Chairs the Ngai Tahu Holding Corporation, Sealord Group Ltd, and the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission. He teaches History at the University of Canterbury where he holds the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters.