Chief Executive Leaves Strong Organisation

Tararua District Council chief executive Roger Twentyman has now stepped down from his role leaving behind him a “substantial rural organisation” that is well respected among other Territorial Authorities.

Mr Twentyman, a five term Lower Hutt City Councillor was appointed in 1996 inheriting an organisation still struggling with a district identity imposed six years previously by the Local Government Commission.

“My predecessors had completed the huge task of bringing four disparate councils together but the organisation had reached a plateau. My task was to take it to the next level and to develop some forward thinking,” he recalls.

Enter the Strategic Plan, the first of an increasingly familiar series of local government requirements kick started by the Resource Management and Local Government Acts.
This was “a quantum leap;” unchartered territory and a bullet to bite.

Mr Twentyman remembers a cubby hole in Uttam Chandra’s office. “It had a stack of documents, some plans and a text book on how to produce a Strategic Plan.”
Fortuitously policy analyst Anne Hilson arrived in Dannevirke, was instantly employed, and over 12 years has proved a “godsend”.

Another inheritance was two council Local Authority Trading Enterprises (LATEs) – Tararua Roading Ltd and Tararua Forests Ltd. To these Mr Twentyman added a holding company, putting in place a “substantial business model” for the organisation.
Against a background of a declining population and heightened standards for water and waste treatment amenities Mr Twentyman has worked to improve infrastructure and to position the Tararua as a district to attract business. Alliance Meat Works and The Warehouse are two examples.

The appointments of strong departmental managers, a district marketer, economic development advisor and a media officer have all helped to create a council operating within the current local body business environment as a credible and respected entity.
This perception has been backed up by community surveys in which the council has been benchmarked against its peers with generally positive results.

Striving always to improve the organisation’s performance in the pursuit of excellence has been a hallmark of the Twentyman philosophy, enhanced by a ‘hands on, leading from the top’ style.

Of paramount importance has been to keep ratepayers costs as low as possible. “That’s been non negotiable – a bottom line,” he says.


It has also manifested in the focus on customer service delivery – from the front desk to being out in the field – the ‘putting people first’ approach, and an inclusive ‘open door’ policy of always being available.
He expresses a “commitment to building and retaining the trust of the community”, and “likes to think that the council is seen as being friendly and responsive.”
Praise here for the staff whose “willingness to adopt the values and to work as a team” has created a positive internal environment.

“None of this is about me, it’s about the organisation which has developed through mutual respect and trust,” Roger Twentyman emphasised during our interview.
Whilst not always agreeing with decisions ‘from the top,’ management and staff have appreciated a leader whose combination of firmness, friendliness and encouragement has been a positive influence.

“Roger is one of these people who makes a difference,” says community development manager Troy Gerbich. “He has set extremely high standards at Council and yet is extremely practical. One cannot help but be inspired.”
Council’s elected members too are thanked for their support and an “enjoyable” working relationship.
As a self-styled ‘local Southern boy,’ who was raised in Pahiatua and now resides in the North Ward, it could be suggested that Roger Twentyman’s background embodies the ‘district wide’ ethos that encompasses the Tararua district.
Challenges? Dealing with negativity and misinformation are the inevitable downsides of local body life. Seasonal challenges include the district’s lack of water resources, maintaining an acceptable rating structure, and balancing that with the public expectation of an increased level of service provision.
Roger has left the council believing that “it is time to move on” but he is not leaving the district and intends to find a niche in the community. Meanwhile he has taken a short-term contract with the Manawatu Cancer Society.
Long time colleague, corporate services manager Peter Wimsett sums up the Twentyman contribution to Tararua.
“Roger Twentyman has overseen a resurgence in the district. Council investment in the core infrastructure of roading, water and sewerage took a prime role across all locations in the Tararua.

Satisfaction in the Council’s performance improved significantly over his 13 years at the helm and, despite the economic climate, Council remains financially sound to weather the storm.”
In local body terms that’s a good legacy.