Introducing our Senior Leadership Team

We are excited to introduce the newly appointed Senior Leadership Team (SLT) at the Ministry for Regulation. With a broad, diverse and complementary range of skills, knowledge and extensive experience, our SLT will play a crucial role in guiding the Ministry through its next phase of growth and development as we continue to shape the future of New Zealand’s regulatory landscape.

Paul Delahunty joins the Ministry on 11 November as the Deputy Chief Executive for Reviews and System Capability.

Paul brings extensive experience across both the public and private sectors, having held senior leadership roles in various government agencies such as the Social Investment Agency, ACC, Tertiary Education Commission, and Department of Conservation.

With a proven record in system reform, organisational capability building, and delivering strategic advice to Chief Executives and Ministers, Paul has been instrumental in leading large-scale transformation, particularly in regulatory and legislative environments.

Paul’s most recent work includes supporting Ministry for the Environment with advisory services around the implementation of the Fast-track Approvals Bill, further showcasing his dedication to strengthening New Zealand’s regulatory frameworks.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University of Wellington.

Paula Knaap joins the Ministry on November 20 as the Deputy Chief Executive for Organisational Enablement.

Paula has worked across a range of regulatory environments and is joining the Ministry from the Environmental Protection Authority where she was General Manager, Strategy & Engagement. She has previously led large regulatory and social policy functions at WorkSafe NZ, Ministry of Education, and Inland Revenue, where she was a key member of the Leadership Team acknowledged for transforming performance, service and culture and won an IPANZ Award for this in 2016.

Paula is a qualified lawyer with a master's degree in business from Henley Business School in the UK and is a Global Women Breakthrough Leaders Alumni. She also has extensive international experience, negotiating intergovernmental agreements and representing New Zealand overseas.

Andrew Royle recently stepped into the role of Deputy Chief Executive for Policy. Andrew was appointed on 30 September 2024. He had been part of the original Ministry for Regulation establishment team, joining the Ministry on secondment on 1 March 2024 as the Ministry's Legal Lead.  

Andrew has previous experience in leading successful start-up entities such as establishing the first Government Chief Privacy Office and the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Trust. He has an extensive background in both legal and policy roles across multiple government agencies.

Throughout his career, Andrew has worked closely with policy professionals on a variety of key projects, including legislative stewardship, regulatory design, and implementing large-scale reforms. His leadership of initiatives such as the Government’s legal services strategy, and the 2013 State Sector Act reforms and his significant involvement in resource management reform highlights his deep engagement with policy development and implementation.

Andrew has held senior roles at the Ministry for the Environment, Crown Law, the (then) State Services Commission and Department of Internal Affairs.

Prior to joining the public service, he spent 15 years in private practice as a lawyer in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Andrew holds a BA/LLB from the University of Auckland.

Gráinne Moss, our Chief Executive, is excited about the new leadership team. “I am incredibly pleased to have such a complementary set of skills, knowledge, and experience within our Senior Leadership Team. Each of these senior leaders brings a unique perspective and deep expertise, which will be crucial as we tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead. Together, we are well-positioned to continue our work on enhancing regulatory frameworks that will benefit all New Zealanders.”

As we progress, our SLT will work collaboratively across government, and many different sectors in New Zealand to ensure that the Ministry for Regulation drives the system-level change needed to improve the regulatory environment. Our focus is on lifting the quality of new regulation, improving system frameworks and raising the capability of regulators. By doing so, we aim to deliver high-quality, adaptable regulatory systems that respond to New Zealand’s evolving needs, making enduring change at a system level. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this work will have on our regulatory landscape.