Rural Lifestyle & Trout Lure New Chief to Tararua

A rural lifestyle reminding him of his dairy farming childhood up north at Kaipara has been a catalyst in luring Blair King JP from Queenstown to Tararua.

The council’s newly appointed chief executive – along with his wife Sandie also an engineer - believes that the district with its well grounded focus will provide his own family – Sarah nearly eight, and Matthew six – with a similar environment.

Mr King, 40 was general manager of Lakes Engineering Limited, a consultancy owned by the Queensland Lakes District Council.

A double engineering graduate (Masters) at Auckland University, Mr King’s experience working for councils includes five-year stints with Manakau City ,beginning as an investigating engineer and then customer services manager, followed by being assets manager for Kaipara District.

Unsurprisingly perhaps ensuring maintenance contracts, roading, stormwater and consent renewals deliver the right service are critical – but equally important are communications and building relationships, he emphasises.
So what will this first time chief executive bring to his role in Tararua?
Born out of time working for and with contractors, is an awareness of the value of working together in a partnership process towards a common goal.

He mentions instances of doing things more simply, and of turning “problems” into opportunities then dealing with them from a different basis.
Mr King applies this ethos across all areas of responsibility – within the organisation and out in the community.

He sees the role of chief executive as supporting and ensuring delivery of decisions, and is keen “to use people as sounding boards.”

An immediate challenge will be to “build a robust Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) with the team,” he says.

Another ‘biggie’ will be dealing with the district’s water issues and the roading network.
Meanwhile for Blair King and his family there is Tararua to explore and recreational interests to pursue.

As well as continuing to be a volunteer fireman he is a keen multisport competitor.

So expect to see a tall, fit figure in this year’s Infracon Challenge.

And not forgetting Tararua’s rivers where, lying in wait is the lure of the trout.