Bumpy journey ends warmly

GREETINGS: Mike Kawana (left) and Pim Borren hongi at yesterday's powhiri. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

New Masterton District Council chief executive Pim Borren is unlikely to ever forget his journey north from Christchurch to take up his new job.

Mr Borren, 52, flew into Wellington in the midst of one of the biggest wind storms to hit the lower North Island in years with the aircraft - one of the few to brave landing - making three attempts to put down before succeeding.

The well-travelled chief executive said during a welcoming powhiri in Masterton yesterday he had never before experienced a landing like it.

"We had three attempts, it took an hour to land and I was very nervous.

"We all applauded the pilot, but never mind I am in Masterton now and it's a nice day."

Mr Borren was welcomed to Masterton by kaumatua Mike Kawana and was accompanied by elder sister Anneke and a Rotorua kaumatua and personal friend, Dr Ken Kennedy.

His sister is the eldest of eight children and was 16 when the family came from Holland to New Zealand whereas Pim Borren was the youngest and only a year old when they emigrated from Europe.

"So you should find I don't have much of an accent but she may," he said.

Mr Borren said he was feeling a "bit jet-lagged" as he had only flown back to New Zealand from China on Sunday before making his way to Wairarapa.

He said he was looking forward to getting to know the town and its people along with the councillors and made mention of his predecessor, Wes ten Hove.

He said he had "a bit of an odd feeling" being at his first function in Masterton and no doubt Mr ten Hove, who had given 33 years service in total to the council, would have an odd feeling by not being there.

"But someone once told me change is inevitable, and it is."