About the Chair

The Chair in Public Finance conducts research on public finance to improve the quality of public policy in New Zealand and abroad.

The Chair in Public Finance was established in 2011 within the Wellington School of Business and Government in association with a number of external stakeholders. The main aims of the Chair were to conduct research in public finance and engage with public policy institutions to help improve the quality of public policy advice in New Zealand and overseas.

Professor Norman Gemmell was appointed as the first holder of the Chair in Public Finance in 2011. Following Norman’s retirement from the role in April 2022 (to become an Adjunct Professor in the School of Accounting and Commercial Law), the Chair currently remains vacant.

During this period the Chair was sponsored by a number of stakeholders including The Treasury (2011-21), Inland Revenue (2011-21), Ministry of Social Development (2011-16), PwC (2011-16), Ministry of Education (2016-21), Productivity Commission (2015-19). In addition, the Chair received support from the Endeavour Fund at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) during 2016-19 and 2019-22. A Review of the Chair’s activities over the first ten years can be found here.

The Chair in Public Finance also received financial support for specific projects and activities from ‘core’ sponsors and various other organisations including: The Government Economics Network (GEN), Booksellers New Zealand, New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER), Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (Cambridge, Mass., USA).

The Chair in Public Finance was supported by an Advisory Board including senior representatives from the University and partner organisations. The Board provided advice and support on the research work programme of the Chair, links with key stakeholders, policy, and public engagement initiatives and supported the financial underpinning of the Chair.

In addition to supporting a professor of public finance, the Chair’s sponsorship facilitated a number of other public finance appointments, including a part-time administrator (Ms Anna Burnett-Howard), a research fellow (Dr Nazila Alinaghi) and Professor John Creedy’s appointment as Professor of Public Economics and Taxation in the School of Accounting and Commercial Law.

Further details of Research Projects and Publications by the Chair in Public Finance can be found here: Research Projects, Publications.

For a more detailed profile on Norman Gemmell visit the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s meet our researchers page.  Norman Gemmell's CV can be found here.