Deloitte NZ
1. Business/Trading Name: Deloitte New Zealand – commonly referred to simply as Deloitte, a Big Four accounting and consulting firm in NZ.
2. Company Number: 114972 (registered with the NZ Companies Office).
3. NZBN: 9429032075946 (New Zealand Business Number).
4. Entity Type: NZ Limited Company (Ltd), privately held. (Note: Deloitte NZ operates as a partnership structure via corporate entities.)
5. Business Classification: Professional services in accounting, auditing, tax, and management consulting. Deloitte NZ is one of the country’s largest accounting and advisory firms, providing “audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, and tax services”.
6. Industry Category: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services – specifically the accounting and management consulting industry. Deloitte’s services span multiple sectors (finance, government, technology, etc.), but it primarily falls under the professional services industry.
7. Year Founded: 1982 (date of incorporation as Deloitte Haskins & Sells Ltd on 5 August 1982). The firm’s roots trace back further through predecessor firms (known as Hutchison Hull in 1984–2000 and Deloitte Services Ltd until 2016), before adopting the Deloitte brand name.
8. Addresses: Head Office – Deloitte Centre, 1 Queen Street, Auckland 1010 (Levels 15–20). Wellington – 20 Customhouse Quay, Wellington 6011. Deloitte NZ also maintains offices in Christchurch, Hamilton, Dunedin, and other major centres (7 sites nationwide). (Registered Office and Service Address are at 1 Queen Street, Auckland.)
9. Website URL: www.deloitte.co.nz.
10. LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deloitte/?originalSubdomain=nz – Deloitte NZ’s official LinkedIn page (professional networking profile).
11. Company Hub NZ URL: companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429032075946 – CompanyHub profile for Deloitte Limited, which shows key registry info (Company #114972, NZBN 9429032075946, Registered status, etc.).
12. NZ Companies Office URL: companies-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz (search by company #114972). (The Companies Office record for Deloitte Limited confirms it as a registered company since 05/08/1982). The Companies Office also lists Deloitte as a licensed audit firm (Audit Firm registration #AUD187), with contact details at Deloitte Centre Auckland.
13. Social Media URLs: Twitter/X: @deloitte_NZ (official account for Deloitte NZ) ; Facebook: facebook.com/DeloitteNZ (Deloitte New Zealand page) ; Instagram: @DeloitteNewZealand (often used for recruitment/branding); TikTok: @deloitte.nz YouTube: via Deloitte global channel (no dedicated NZ channel). (These platforms are used for thought leadership and recruitment content.)
14. Ultimate Holding Company: Deloitte Holding Limited – this NZ-registered holding company (Company #5961512) owns 100% of Deloitte Ltd. Deloitte Holding Ltd was incorporated in 2016 and became the ultimate holding entity effective 20 March 2017. (It is, in turn, owned by a nominee company on behalf of the Deloitte partners).
15. Key Shareholders: Deloitte Holding Limited (100% shareholder of Deloitte Ltd, with 100 shares). Prior to 2016, Deloitte Nominee Company Limited held the shares as trustee for the partners. Essentially, Deloitte NZ is owned by its partners via these corporate entities – there are no external public shareholders.
16. Leadership: Chief Executive – Mike Horne, appointed 2021 (after 27 years at Deloitte). Chairman – Thomas Pippos, former CEO (2011–2021) who became Executive Chair in 2021. Other senior leaders include Iain Bradley (Managing Partner, and Peter Gulliver (Chief Operating Officer) – all of whom serve as directors of the company. Deloitte NZ’s partnership group comprises ~130 partners nationally (as of 2020), who lead various service lines and regional offices.
17. Staff: Approximately 1,500 employees in New Zealand, spread across offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Rotorua, and Queenstown (7 locations). This includes professional staff in consulting, audit, tax, and support roles. Deloitte NZ’s workforce has grown significantly alongside public and private sector demand.
18. Staff with Previous Government Roles: Deloitte NZ has recruited several former public officials and political advisors into its ranks. For example, Jane Fraser-Jones – now a Deloitte Wellington partner – spent 6 years as a senior adviser to the Prime Minister before joining Deloitte. Such hires (“revolving door” figures) include ex-ministry officials, policy advisors, and regulators who bring government experience. (E.g. Deloitte’s economics team and public sector practice in Wellington include former Treasury, Reserve Bank, and public service staff, as evidenced by hires like a former PM adviser.).
19. Past Employees: Notable alumni of Deloitte NZ include Murray Jack (CEO 2005–2011, then Chair until 2014), who later chaired the Financial Markets Authority board; Ross Milne (former Chair 2014–2021) ; and numerous partners who moved into prominent corporate or public roles. For instance, Murray Jack joined Deloitte in 1976 and rose to CEO, then upon retirement became an influential government advisor/regulator. Another example is Liz Hickey, a former Deloitte partner who served on the Securities Commission. Deloitte’s alumni network in NZ’s corporate and government circles is extensive, illustrating the firm’s long-term influence through ex-staff.
20. Clients: Deloitte NZ serves a mix of government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and major private-sector companies. Key public-sector clients have included the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE), which spent millions on Deloitte’s consulting services, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, the Ministry of Transport, and many others via consulting panels. Deloitte also audits or advises large corporates like banks, insurers, utilities, and agribusinesses. (For example, Deloitte has worked with NZ Police on joint initiatives and is auditor or advisor to firms among the NZX Top 50). Government consulting makes up a significant portion of its client base, alongside industries such as financial services, energy, technology, and consumer goods.
21. Industries/Sectors Represented: Deloitte’s client engagements span all major sectors of the economy. These include Government & Public Services, Financial Services (banking, insurance), Energy & Resources, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Technology & Telecommunications, Consumer & Manufacturing, and more. The firm has dedicated teams targeting these sectors (e.g. a public sector practice, financial advisory for infrastructure, consulting for tech and digital transformation), and it often represents industry perspectives in those domains through research and lobbying. For instance, Deloitte Access Economics (its research arm) produces industry reports for tech sector groups and government.
22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Deloitte NZ is regularly engaged in high-profile projects that become public. Recent examples include a 77-page Deloitte review of Health NZ’s finances (commissioned by government) which found the new health agency “lost control of spending” – this report was released publicly in 2025. Another example is a MBIE-commissioned report on the NZ Space Sector’s value (2019) prepared by Deloitte Access Economics. Deloitte also co-produced the BusinessNZ Election Survey 2017 (publicly released) comparing business community views and political party policies. Additionally, Deloitte’s submissions to parliamentary inquiries (e.g. on tax legislation via published select committee submissions) and its role in public projects (like the Ministry of Transport’s contracting review and various Royal Commission analyses) are on record. These disclosed engagements highlight where Deloitte’s work directly informs public policy or outcomes.
23. Affiliations: Deloitte NZ is closely affiliated with several business and industry groups. It is an active member of BusinessNZ, partnering on surveys and reports with that lobby group. Deloitte is also a member of the Major Companies Group under BusinessNZ (joining other large corporates in policy advocacy). Through Deloitte Access Economics, it partners with organizations like NZ Tech (FinTechNZ) for industry research. The firm’s partners are influential in professional bodies such as Chartered Accountants Australia & NZ (CA ANZ) – e.g. Deloitte leaders have chaired CA ANZ’s board. Deloitte is part of All-of-Government consulting panels and affiliated with the Trans-Tasman Business Circle and other forums. Internationally, Deloitte NZ is a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL), the global Deloitte network, which provides additional affiliations and access. These memberships and alliances embed Deloitte in the broader business advocacy ecosystem in New Zealand.
24. Sponsorships/Collaborations: Deloitte NZ actively sponsors events and initiatives to bolster its public presence. It is a repeat sponsor of the NZ Fraud Film Festival (a public-private event on fraud prevention). In 2024, Deloitte NZ was a proud sponsor of the Women in Insurance Summit, promoting diversity in that industry. The firm has also become the principal sponsor of Techweek NZ (from 2025), a nationwide technology and innovation festival (as announced by NZTech). Deloitte sponsors business awards (see below) and community programs; for example, it partners with universities on student case competitions and supports charitable causes through its Deloitte Impact Day volunteer program. These sponsorships serve to raise Deloitte’s profile and build goodwill in sectors where it seeks influence.
25. Events (Organised or Hosted): Deloitte NZ hosts and co-hosts a number of high-profile events in the business community. It runs the annual Deloitte Top 200 Awards, which celebrate top-performing companies and executives (in association with media partners). It also created the Deloitte Fast 50 program, an event series ranking NZ’s fastest-growing businesses, with regional showcases and a national gala. Deloitte holds industry seminars, such as its annual Budget briefings and Tax Outlook events for clients when the Government announces budgets or tax changes. The firm frequently organises conferences/webinars on topics like cyber security, AI in government, and sustainability (e.g. a Deloitte event at Techweek on AI in healthcare). These events position Deloitte as a thought leader and bring policymakers, clients, and partners together under Deloitte’s banner.
26. Political Donations: Deloitte New Zealand as a firm does not typically donate directly to political parties (maintaining an apolitical stance publicly). However, there have been instances of donations facilitated via entities linked to Deloitte. Notably, in 2020 a donation of $120,000 to the Māori Party was made by Aotearoa Te Kahu Limited Partnership using Deloitte’s Auckland office as the contact address. (This suggests Deloitte may have acted as an advisor or trustee for that donor entity.) Additionally, Deloitte was historically involved in managing a Millennium Fund that made political contributions (as referenced in transparency analyses). While no large direct donations from “Deloitte” appear on Electoral Commission registers, the firm’s partners and associated trusts have been donors – often in ways not immediately transparent (e.g. via solicitors or nominee companies). This underscores a level of opacity in how Deloitte-linked money can enter politics.
27. Controversies: Deloitte NZ has faced scrutiny as part of the wider “Big Four” consulting firms’ influence in government. One controversy is the perception of conflict of interest when consultants like Deloitte advise government policymakers while also serving corporate clients affected by those policies. For example, Deloitte’s CEO Murray Jack simultaneously sat on the Securities Commission (financial regulator) in 2010 while leading Deloitte, raising eyebrows about regulatory capture. More recently, as the Government’s reliance on consultants grew, politicians and media criticised a “consultant gravy train,” implicitly including Deloitte. Deloitte (along with peers) has been accused of profiting from public sector outsourcing, and lack of transparency around its lobbying roles. In 2023, revelations of PwC’s misuse of confidential tax info in Australia sparked scrutiny of all Big Four firms in NZ, including Deloitte, regarding ethical walls and integrity – Deloitte had to reaffirm its own controls. The “Big Con” critique by economist Mariana Mazzucato – that big consultancies exert outsized influence on policy for profit – has also put Deloitte under the spotlight. In summary, while no singular Deloitte NZ scandal has dominated headlines, the firm is frequently mentioned in debates about consultants’ influence, conflicts of interest, and the need for greater accountability in government engagements.
28. Other Information of Note: Deloitte NZ is part of Deloitte Asia-Pacific and the global Deloitte network, giving it access to international expertise but also aligning it with global strategies. Deloitte markets itself as a trusted advisor with high integrity, publishing annual “Impact Reports” highlighting contributions to society and adherence to ethical standards. However, observers note this can amount to “integrity washing” – promoting transparency and public value while engaging in opaque lobbying. It’s noteworthy that NZ has no mandatory lobbyist register, so Deloitte’s behind-the-scenes lobbying for clients (e.g. quietly advising on law changes that benefit a client) often escapes public disclosure. Deloitte’s deep penetration into government – through secondments, advisory boards, and partnerships – makes it a powerful behind-the-curtain player. For instance, Deloitte partners have helped write policy frameworks (such as accounting standards for public entities) and often sit on government taskforces. This blend of public and private roles is a hallmark of Deloitte’s modus operandi in NZ. Lastly, Deloitte NZ’s financial success (with revenue reportedly over $300 million) funds significant investments in thought leadership (like the State of the State reports) aimed at shaping public discourse in areas from infrastructure funding to digital government. All of this underscores Deloitte’s dual identity as both a service provider and a political influencer in New Zealand.
Sources:
• New Zealand Companies Office records (Deloitte Limited, Company #114972)
• BizDb NZ Company Profile – Deloitte Limited (registration details, shareholders, addresses)
• Otago Daily Times – “Dunedin man takes helm at Deloitte” (Jun 2021)
• NBR – “Deloitte announces new leaders” (Feb 2020)
• RNZ News – “Health NZ lost control of spending, Deloitte report finds” (Mar 2025)
• MBIE consulting spend article – B2BNews: “MBIE Slashes Big Four Consultancy Spending” (Feb 2025)
• BusinessNZ/Deloitte – 2017 Election Survey (Deloitte & BusinessNZ joint publication)
• Companies Office audit firm register – Deloitte (Audit firm AUD187, contact info)
• Newsroom/University of Auckland – “The real problem is consultants’ influence, not their cost” (Mar 2023)
• Election Commission donation returns (showing donation via Deloitte address)
• NBR – “Murray Jack appointed to Securities Commission” (Oct 2010)
• Deloitte media release – “Deloitte Top 200 Awards finalists announced” (Oct 2024)
• Facebook (Deloitte NZ page – sponsorship posts)
• Deloitte NZ website and publications (services, industry focus, press releases, etc.)
Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz