The New Zealand Marine Department was a government department in New Zealand that managed the administration of marine law.[1]
The New Zealand Marine Department was created in late 1866, initially holding responsibility for the administration of the country's lighthouses. It grew in scope to cover many other responsibilities including overseeing mercantile marine activities and harbour duties, regulating the fisheries industry and the administration of the Ross Dependency.
The Marine Department was initially under the ministerial control of the Postmaster-General, until 1870 when it instead became a part of the New Zealand Customs Department. The Marine Department remained a part the Customs Department until 1903 (apart from a minor interlude between 1878 and 1881) when it was made a stand-alone government department. The Shipping and Seamen's Act of 1877 gave the Marine Department statutory recognition and authorised the Governor to appoint both a Minister and a Secretary to head the Department.
During the early 1970s, following a report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the State Services in New Zealand, the Marine Department was converted into the Marine Division of the Ministry of Transport. However many of its functions were distributed across a number of other agencies.
The following is a list of marine secretaries: