Mark G. Byers

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Mark G. Byers is a former New Zealand civil servant who was the first Chief Executive of the New Zealand Corrections Department from 1995 to February 2005. Byers oversaw a range of significant organizational development initiatives and major changes to the way in which offenders are managed. His policy work in this role contributed to the Corrections Act 2004. His policy of "integrated offender management" is credited with the first reduction in the reconvictions and re-offending rates of offenders; it has attracted international interest. He showed particular interest in reducing Maori recidivism.

Byers started his career as a public servant in the Department of Agriculture where he was involved in human resources and industrial relations work. He then went to the State Services Commission and from 1985 to 1987, he was responsible for a number of machinery of government changes, including the review of environmental administration agencies, the establishment of state-owned enterprises.

He also coordinated expenditure review activity as part of the Budget setting process. In 1987, he moved to the Treasury as Deputy Secretary (Corporate Services) and thus Chief Operating Officer for the department. Whilst in this post he improved internal management systems and reshaping the department.

Between 1990 and 1993 he was Chair of the Officials Committee on Expenditure Control working with the Treasury Ministers. At that time he was also involved in aspects of Public Sector management reform, including serving on the Officials Committee for the State Sector.

In 2002 there were calls for Byers to resign after he accepted responsibility for two prison escapes. Byers resigned in February 2005 ([1]).