Chief Executive Resigns But Not Lost To Dunedin

Mayor Dave Cull announced today that Dunedin City Council Chief Executive Jim Harland has resigned his position.
“Mr Harland leaves the Dunedin City Council to take up a position as Southern Regional Director for the NZ Transport Agency, commencing in January 2011. This is a unique opportunity for Mr Harland and one that utilises his strengths in strategic planning, organisational leadership and relationship management”, said Mayor Cull.
NZ Transport Agency Chief Executive Geoff Dangerfield said that as Southern Regional Director Mr Harland would work between NZTA’s Christchurch and Dunedin offices so would not be lost to Dunedin. “This is a key position within the NZTA and Jim will play an important role in advising South Island councils regarding their regional land transport strategies.”
As part of his new role, Mr Harland will retain his position on the Stadium Project Delivery Team because of the synergy between the Stadium, the realignment of SH88 and his knowledge of the project. He will also be involved in national projects as part of the NZTA's Senior Leadership Team.
Mr Harland came to the Dunedin City Council from North Shore City in 2000 and said at that time he hoped to stay for ten years. “After eleven years as Chief Executive the time is right for a career progression” said Mr Harland.
“I have always been committed to the development of strong organisational capability, structured strategic thinking resulting in costed implementation plans which reflect community priorities. This was recognised by the Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) in 2006 when the Dunedin City Council received its Supreme Award for our Activity Management Planning Process that linked performance development systems to the Long Term Council Community Planning process.”
Mr Harland initiated and led the Choices for the Future exercise which drove the 2000–2010 Long Term Community Plan. This is currently being reviewed and updated as ‘Your City Our Future’, again involving residents and stakeholders as well as Councillors and staff. He also sponsored I Am Dunedin, the city’s successful city marketing campaign and the more recent collaborative city marketing initiative that involves Dunedin’s tertiary, tourism and business sectors.
The Dunedin City Council has received international recognition through Mr Harland’s overseas speaking engagements for the World Health Organisation (WHO) where he has made presentations in Japan, Canada and China on improving the quality of city health. He has also presented Dunedin City's success with information technology and a digital city in China, Australia and the United States. This was based on the Citizen Direct project in place in 2000.
In addition Mr Harland has been active nationally with sponsoring the Recruitment and Retention project for the Society of Local Government Managers, Chairing the Community Plan Working Party and the Quality of Life project for New Zealand's 12 largest cities.
Mr Harland is also Chairman of the Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management Group and is a member of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Peak Group which is responsible for advising the Ministry and the Minister on the primary industries response to climate change and emission trading schemes and overseeing research in these areas. He also has been a member of Local Government New Zealand's National Climate Change Subcommittee and is an advisor to the Highlanders Board.