John Ombler | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ombler in 2020 | |
| Born | John Stewart Ombler |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Occupation | Public servant |
John Stewart OmblerCNZM QSO is a New Zealand public servant. He served as deputy State Services Commissioner from 2008 until 2014, and briefly in 2019, and as the controller of the all-of-government response during the 2020COVID-19 pandemic.
Ombler joined the New Zealand National Parks and Reserves Authority (part of theDepartment of Lands and Survey) in 1975, transitioning to theDepartment of Conservation when it was formed in 1987.[1] He was a conservator inWhanganui,Hawke's Bay andAuckland, before being appointed as a regional general manager in 1997.[1] While based atPipiriki on theWhanganui River in the early 1980s, Ombler and his then-wife Kathy co-wrote books about both the river and the Whanganui River Road.[2]
In 2007, Ombler joined theState Services Commission.[3] The following year, he was appointed acting deputy State Services Commissioner, and he was confirmed in that role in 2009.[3]
As deputy State Services Commissioner, Ombler was the interim chief executive officer of theCanterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) at its establishment following the2011 Christchurch earthquake.[4] Ombler returned to CERA as acting chief executive officer on 1 December 2014, taking over fromRoger Sutton,[5] and remained in that role until the agency was dissolved in 2016.[6]
In November 2017, Ombler was appointed to conduct an inquiry under the auspices of the State Services Commission into financial irregularities at theWaikato District Health Board.[7] In 2019, Ombler returned as deputy State Services Commissioner on a temporary basis between February and June while a permanent appointee was sought.[8] In June 2019, he carried out an investigation into the actions and statements of chief executive and secretary to the Treasury,Gabriel Makhlouf, regarding unauthorised access to sensitive material related to the2019 New Zealand budget.[9]
During the 2020COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Ombler was appointed controller of the all-of-government response[10] and, in that capacity, was a deputy chief executive of theDepartment of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He left that role in late 2020.
In April 2021,Local Government MinisterNanaia Mahuta announced Ombler would be a panel member of the Government's independent review oflocal government.[11]
In the2013 Queen's Birthday Honours, Ombler was appointed aCompanion of the Queen's Service Order, for services to the State.[12] In the2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed aCompanion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the public service.[13]