Senior Management Group
Deputy Secretary of Defence (Policy and Planning)
Chris Seed
Chris Seed is Deputy Secretary of Defence (Policy and Planning). The Policy and Planning Unit provides defence and security policy advice, maintains New Zealand's bilateral and multilateral defence relationships and advises on the military and organisational capabilities needed to achieve the Government's requirements.
Chris took up his position in February 2004. Prior to that he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. His overseas service included several assignments involving significant interaction with defence policy and NZDF operations. Chris was New Zealand's High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea (2001-03), Deputy Leader and Senior National Officer in the first deployment of the International Peace Monitoring Team in the Solomon Islands, Deputy High Commissioner in London (1998-2000) and Counsellor in Canberra (1994-97).
He has also been posted in Tehran (1989-91), was seconded to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra (1987) and served on New Zealand delegations to various international meetings including the UN General Assembly, the UN Conference on Environment and Development, and the UN Development Programme's Governing Council.
Read more about the Policy and Planning Division.
Acting Deputy Secretary of Defence (Acquisition)
Kevin McMahon is Acting Deputy Secretary of Defence (Acquisition) pending a permanent appointment to this position.
Read more about the Acquisition Division.
Deputy Secretary of Defence (Evaluation)
Merus Cochrane
Merus Cochrane is Deputy Secretary of Defence (Evaluation) in the Ministry of Defence. The Evaluation Division is responsible for conducting assessments and audits of the New Zealand Defence Force and of the Ministry's capability acquisition activities on behalf of the Minister of Defence, against a programme approved by the Defence Evaluation Board on behalf of the Minister.
Appointed in 2002, Merus came from the position of Sector Manager in the Office of the Auditor-General, responsible for the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, and Health sector portfolios. She held that position for five years, and in it managed relationships with auditors, Government agencies, and Parliament, designed audit programmes for the portfolios, provided briefings on performance to Ministers and select committees, and led performance audits and reviews.
Before that she was a senior manager (Policy) in the Ministry of Education for four and a half years, leading both the Learning and Evaluation and the Education Management Policy teams. This involved direct liaison with Ministers and Cabinet committees, and significant involvement in the budget process, as well as consultation with other agencies and the community.
Read more about the Evaluation Division.
Deputy Secretary of Defence (Corporate)
Zane Kidd
Zane Kidd is Deputy Secretary of Defence (Corporate) in the Ministry of Defence. The Corporate Division is responsible for providing support services and policy advice in the areas of human resources, information management and technology, and legal. The division is responsible for all aspects of Ministerial services, including the handling of Ministerial correspondence, and miscellaneous enquiries.
Appointed in July 2005, Zane came from the position of Human Resources Manager with the Ministry of Defence which he had held since November 2000. Prior to commencing work with the Ministry of Defence Zane held senior positions in other public sector organisations like the Treasury, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Research Science and Technology. He is a member of the New Zealand Association of Psychological Type and the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand.