Hon Justice Simon Moore KC named as new Chair
A new Chair is to be appointed to the Board of the Electoral Commission.
Hon Justice Simon Moore KC will take on the role of Chair on 18 November 2024.
He began his career in 1982 as a staff solicitor at Meredith Connell. Three years later he was made a partner at the firm and was chairman of partners from 2003 until his appointment to the High Court Bench in 2014.
He retired from the High Court Bench in October 2023, but remains on an acting warrant which runs until December 31 this year.
The other members of the Electoral Commission Board are Deputy Chair Jane Meares and Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne.
Jane Meares and Karl Le Quesne have congratulated the new Chair on the appointment and look forward to working with him as preparations are made for the 2026 General Election.
The current Chair, Dame Marie Shroff, is finishing her 5-year term.
“On behalf of the Board and all of us at the Commission, we thank Marie for her strong leadership and support for all our work over the last five years,” says Karl Le Quesne.
Dame Marie Shroff began her term as Chair in August 2019 and led the Commission through the 2020 General Election when COVID-19 measures were in place, and the 2023 General Election. During her term, the Commission also delivered two referendums in 2020, and by-elections in Tauranga (2022), Hamilton West (2022) and Port Waikato (2023).
Marie has a distinguished career in the public service. Between 1987 and 2003 Marie was Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council, working with four Governors-General, and six Prime Ministers from both major parties. Marie also served as Privacy Commissioner from 2003 to 2014.