His thesis was titled An Integrated Approach to Redistribution: Issues of Policy, Economics and Information.

At the time, Labour Opposition leader Helen Clark criticised the appointment, describing Prebble as an "apostle of the New Right".

[5] Upon winning the 1999 election, however, Clark reappointed Prebble to the role, and is understood to have worked closely with him.

While Secretary Prebble received publicity for describing Work and Income New Zealand chief executive Christine Rankin's clothes as "indecent".

[8] In the 2009 New Year Honours, Prebble was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for public services.