Masterton council boss loses role

CONTRACT NOT RENEWED: Wes ten Hove has lost out on his bid to be returned as Masterton District Council's chief executive. PHOTO/FILE

The man who has been at the helm of Masterton District Council for 17 years has been told his contract as chief executive will not be renewed from the end of June.

Wes ten Hove, 59, applied for his job when the council advertised the chief executive position in late January, and was short-listed, but lost out when councillors gathered to consider the applicants at a meeting earlier this week which was closed to the press and public.

Instead the councillors chose Dr Pim Borren, 52, as the new chief executive.

Dr Borren returned from Australia last year where he had been chief executive at Southbank Institute of Technology in Brisbane.

Prior to that he had been chief executive at Waiariki Institute of Technology, Rotorua.

Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson said Dr Borren fitted the skillset the councillors had been looking for.

She said he was highly skilled in strategic planning and very experienced in regional development and building relationships with iwi.

Mrs Patterson acknowledged the "outstanding contribution" made by Mr ten Hove over the years and wished him well for the future.

Mr ten Hove succeeded Bill Flannery as the council's chief executive in 1997 but his service with Masterton local bodies dates back much further.

He joined the former Masterton Borough Council about 32 years ago as an administration officer having previously been in the New Zealand navy serving aboard both HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Waikato and having studied for a law degree.

As chief executive officer Mr ten Hove is the council's sole appointed staff member and becomes responsible for all hired staff.

His position as chief executive was challenged by some councillors when he was granted a contract extension to take him through to the completion of this financial year, being June 30.

Then Mayor Garry Daniell had presented Mr ten Hove with the offer of the extension apparently against the wishes of councillors who had called for a closed door meeting to discuss his continued employment.