Carol Gordon has already spent 11 years at the Rangitīkei District Council.
Rangitīkei District Council’s new boss is ready to tackle the “huge changes” coming its way.
Carol Gordon, who has been with the council for 11 years, replaces Kevin Ross as chief executive.
She said the Government’s Local Water Done Well legislation was top of the agenda.
That meant the need to partner with other local authorities.
“Myself and staff are facing huge changes and we need to make sure we are driving it, not being left behind,” she said.
“Our relationships with neighbouring councils are vital.
“At the end of the day, we are all doing the same thing. If we can do it together, that makes our lives a lot easier.”
The Rangitīkei council is aiming for a joint water delivery model with Whanganui and Ruapehu.
Councils, individually or with others, must submit a water delivery plan by September 3.
Gordon said she knew Mayor Andy Watson very well.
Watson has been mayor since 2013.
“We have an excellent relationship which is certainly going to help, but we are also facing an election this year,” she said.
“That’s another change coming.”
Watson said the council was in good hands with Gordon.
“Carol is our current deputy chief executive and group manager for strategy, community and democracy,” he said.
“She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge across council and was a clear stand-out in an incredibly strong calibre of candidates.”
Gordon had the council’s full support, he said.
“We are looking forward to continuing to be guided by her knowledge and experience,” he said.
Gordon began her local government career at the Whanganui District Council in the mid-1990s.
“I started off in the typing pool. Basically, it was a group of females with clunky typewriters doing all the typing for all the managers,” she said.
“That was my first insight into local government, then I moved up the ranks and into HR.”
She also worked as an executive assistant for council managers before she moved to Hawke’s Bay.
“I had a number of roles at the regional council over there and when I left I was the transport manager.
“It’s been a bit of a diverse career. I think I’m just one of those people who sees an opportunity and grasps it to do something new and different.”
Her most recent role at the Rangitīkei council was deputy chief executive.
“Councils are really complex but at the end of the day, it’s all about making sure we get what we need for our communities.
“Working with a really great group of people to make that happen is a bonus.”
The Taihape Town Hall was a major project this year, Gordon said.
Maycroft Construction will strengthen and restore the building, constructed in 1912.
“They have started the seismic investigation, and the investigation work on what we can do with the budget we’ve got [$14 million].
“Taihape people are really keen to get their building back.”
The council building in Marton was another priority, with a $19m rebuild signed off at the end of 2023.
“It’s rebuilding, but rebuilding in a way that gives us flexibility I suppose, in case things don’t look the same in the future for local government,” Gordon said.
Watson said Ross' appointment to the chief executive role was always meant to be short-term and he had “been a delight to work with”.
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.
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