New KiwiRail Directors Appointed as Peters Pushes for Stronger Performance

Mr Peters thanked both men for their service and contributions to what he described as a “challenging but essential turnaround phase” for KiwiRail.

 

The Government has announced two new appointments to the KiwiRail Board, as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen governance, improve accountability, and ensure the state-owned enterprise delivers better value for New Zealand taxpayers.

Rail Minister Winston Peters confirmed that long-serving directors Rob Jager and Bruce Wattie will complete their service on 31 October 2025, and that Murray Harrington and Alastair Bell will join the board from 1 November 2025.

“KiwiRail must deliver the goods,” Mr Peters said. “It is pleasing that Mr Jager and Mr Wattie finished by signing off on a year-end operating surplus that exceeded their $110 million target.”

---

Acknowledging Outgoing Directors

Both departing directors leave with strong records of service.

• Rob Jager, who stepped in as acting chair during 2024, is widely recognised for his leadership in safety and corporate governance. He previously served as Chair of Shell New Zealand, was a director of Air New Zealand for nine years, and has deep expertise in health, safety, and environmental management.

• Bruce Wattie, a chartered accountant and chair of KiwiRail’s Risk, Audit, and Assurance Committee, joined the board in 2020. He has been credited with strengthening KiwiRail’s insurance and financial oversight frameworks, ensuring greater protection for the company’s assets and infrastructure.

Mr Peters thanked both men for their service and contributions to what he described as a “challenging but essential turnaround phase” for KiwiRail.

“They have provided steady leadership through a time of transition,” he said. “Their professionalism and financial discipline have laid a foundation for the next stage of KiwiRail’s reform.”

---

New Appointments: Murray Harrington and Alastair Bell

The newly appointed directors bring deep expertise in finance, infrastructure, governance, and organisational performance.

Murray Harrington

Mr Harrington is a Chartered Accountant and former partner at PwC, with extensive experience in assurance, risk management, and infrastructure finance. He currently serves as:

• Chair of Corde Limited, a council-controlled infrastructure services company owned by Selwyn District Council,

• Chair of Methven Adventures Limited,

• Independent member of the Risk and Assurance Committee for the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, and

• Director for several organisations, including Airtech NZ Limited, Genesis Capital, and IHC New Zealand.

Mr Harrington is known for his pragmatic financial leadership, particularly in complex asset-heavy organisations. His appointment signals the Government’s focus on improving financial resilience and risk oversight within KiwiRail.

Alastair Bell

Mr Bell is Principal at Alastair Bell & Associates within the Ruskin Group, a consultancy specialising in governance and strategic change. He brings over 15 years of board-level experience across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

He currently serves on the boards of:

• New Zealand Post Limited,

• Vector Limited (NZX-listed energy company), and

• Entrust, where he is an elected Trustee and Chair of regulatory and policy committees.

Mr Bell’s expertise in corporate services, strategic transformation, and regulatory engagement will be central to KiwiRail’s ongoing reform programme.

---

Driving KiwiRail’s Turnaround

The appointments follow the Government’s recent steps to reset KiwiRail’s governance and strengthen its commercial focus. Earlier this year, Sue Tindal was appointed Chair, alongside two new directors, as part of a wider shake-up aimed at improving efficiency, cost management, and service reliability.

Mr Peters said the company’s future direction would emphasise financial discipline, operational safety, and infrastructure performance, with clear expectations for the board to lift both earnings and reliability across the rail network.

“When the taxpayer builds an asset like the railways, we expect it to be made use of and not left to waste on the side of the road,” Mr Peters said. “That is why we are driving a strong focus on turning KiwiRail into the successful business New Zealanders expect it to be.”

---

KiwiRail’s Financial and Operational Outlook

KiwiRail’s latest results have shown encouraging progress. The company recorded an operating surplus exceeding its $110 million target, driven by cost savings and steady freight growth.

The Government expects the new board to build on this momentum by focusing on:

• Increasing freight and passenger volumes,

• Reducing operational costs,

• Improving network reliability and resilience, and

• Ensuring the long-term sustainability of capital projects, including the North Island Main Trunk upgrades and Interislander ferry replacement programme.

The emphasis on commercial performance aligns with the coalition Government’s broader transport strategy, which seeks to balance rail’s public service role with its potential to deliver stronger returns to taxpayers.

---

A Renewed Governance Framework

The combined expertise of the new appointees—alongside existing directors—will provide KiwiRail with stronger financial governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance capabilities.

With Ms Tindal at the helm, the refreshed board is expected to implement a streamlined decision-making structure, improve reporting transparency, and work closely with the Ministry of Transport and Treasury to achieve fiscal discipline.

The new appointments are also part of a broader public sector governance refresh being rolled out across key state-owned enterprises, with the aim of ensuring boards have the right balance of commercial, operational, and infrastructure experience.

---

Looking Ahead

The Government has made it clear that KiwiRail’s future success will depend on its ability to operate more efficiently while maintaining safety and service standards. With a new leadership team in place and stronger financial oversight, the organisation is expected to make measurable progress toward becoming a commercially viable, customer-focused rail operator.

“These new appointments are about accountability, transparency, and performance,” said Mr Peters. “New Zealanders deserve a rail system that works—for freight, for passengers, and for the economy.”

The appointments of Murray Harrington and Alastair Bell will take effect on 1 November 2025, following the completion of Rob Jager and Bruce Wattie’s terms on 31 October 2025.