Return Of The Chief

Colin Dale strolls into the room in the Far North District Council offices looking far more like everyone's grandfather than the council's newly-appointed acting chief executive officer. But given he's wearing a clerical grey suit and nondescript tie on a hot and muggy afternoon late in March he has civil servant written all over him. Does he ever throw them off in favour of slacks or, golly, a Hawaiian shirt? He chuckles.

"I have been known to get rid of the tie," he says in that measured government official way before explaining that on this occasion he spruced up to attend a civic reception for Dr Lance O'Sullivan.

His return to the Far North is a bit like ground hog day. He was acting CEO between September 2008 and May 2009 for the same reason as now - the incumbent CEO resigned suddenly. This time he replaces Dave Edmunds who resigned in January shortly after signing a new contract but Colin Dale is far too diplomatic to discuss these things right now, he's here to talk business.

Council reports show Mr Dale earned $124,000 for his initial nine month stint up north working three days a week. He's here for a year this time and says it's full time so he's likely on more than that now but he's not about to discuss salary either. Instead he says there are 'challenges' ahead. It's the sort of corporate word you'd expect him to use before he deftly verbally sidesteps to concentrate on 'issues'. It's perfect repositioning patois.

Liking him to a paterfamilias is apt. The front face of the organization are councillors who have at times been likened to a bunch of stroppy brats. Mr Dale's 55 years of local government wisdom should be a steadying influence and already he's using the collective 'we' in his assessments.

"We weren't really tuned up for the decade ahead and are reviewing policy and reorganizing the management structure. We're preparing annual and long term plans and will also undertake a 30-year plan which is required by statutory process."

He's keen on getting the right people to get on with it and it's the kind of approach for which he's known. He wants to see the Far North 'respected' through a business-friendly council encouraging industry and commerce. He thinks one of Northland's strengths is its Maori base and wants to foster that while striking a balance between what he calls ' physical development, the environment and the quality of life'. Cynics might ask why no-one local was sufficiently qualified to do the job. Why choose an Aucklander to cure our ills or, worse, tell us how to govern ourselves by adopting slick city practices?

Suddenly, behind the smiling visage and the greyness of Mr Dale's suit, out pops a colourful surprise. He's not an Aucklander at all, not even a Kiwi, and as a clincher can point to impeccable Far North connections.

"I bought my passage from Liverpool at 21 years of age and have stayed on ever since. I started working at Auckland City Council and met my wife Billie who is from Rotokakahi on the Hokianga. She lived there until she was 15 but when her father died the family were packed into an Austin 7 and headed to Auckland.

"That's where my love affair with Northland started and there is still whanau land near the forest. We started coming here on holiday in the mid-sixties and have had a home in Mangonui for ten years."

He's always wanted to retire here but it won't happen at least until next March when his contract finishes with FNDC. He's 75 years old and Mr Dale wants to stick around these shores and says quite openly it's his 'destiny' to be here which doesn't sound like a local government phrase at all.

You feel like patting him on the hand and saying well done - except he does it first, when the interview's over. You think how likeable he is and begin to understand why some council workers say the same thing and why they add that since the arrival of this genial man the entire atmosphere of the FNDC has changed. And it's said nearly, almost, as a sigh of relief.