THEY DON'T HAVE TO, but members of boards and statutory corporations usually put their appointments at the disposal of the relevant ministers when there is a change of Government.

Cabinet Secretary Avril Gollop made this clear Wednesday as she spoke to the SATURDAY SUN.

"If you were the chairman of a board, you would give the new person the opportunity to choose whom he or she wants," she said.

"There's nothing that says you have to resign. It's the convention," she added. "Some don't. It is then left to the minister."

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teresa Marshall, said contract ambassadors, in the event of a change of Government, usually put their appointments at the disposal of the Governor-General. She pointed out they were appointed by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister.

"If you're on contract you make the judgement call. Normally, that is what would be done," she noted.

Marshall said the appointments of career public servants were "permanently at the disposal of Government" and were subject to transfers, normally at four-year intervals. (PA)