Te Korowai Consultant

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Robert Buchanan

Robert Buchanan is a retired lawyer and governance consultant. His career began in the 1980s at the Office of the Ombudsman in Wellington, where he developed the Office’s approach to official information investigations. He later served as Director of the Law Commission and Assistant Auditor-General, Legal at the Office of the Auditor-General. From 2006 to 2022, Robert was an independent public law practitioner focusing on public sector good practice, governance, and accountability.

Robert has acted as an independent probity adviser for large-scale public sector procurements and as an independent reviewer for conflict of interest and governance matters. His extensive experience includes roles as a code of conduct reviewer for various councils and a gateway reviewer in the central government sector. He has also served as an independent trustee of Development West Coast and advised boards and chief executives.

Internationally, Robert has worked as a legal consultant to the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions and advised Auditors-General and Public Auditors across the Pacific and South-East Asia. Since retiring in 2022, he has focused on global auditing and assurance standards. He is a member of the Public Interest Oversight Board and Chair Trustee of the International Foundation for Ethics and Audit.

As a Te Korowai assessor, Robert brings extensive knowledge in governance, financial management, procurement, conflict of interest management, and regulatory practice. He retains a strong interest in council-iwi relationships, informed by his background in Treaty-related work.

Robert enjoys exploring his hometown of Porirua, mountain biking, and studying the impact of history on modern events in Aotearoa New Zealand. He is the proud parent of three adult children and two adult step-daughters.