SWDC Chief Executive moves on

South Waikato District Council advises the resignation of Chief Executive Ben Smit.

Mr Smit has been at the helm as Chief Executive for three years. Prior to that he was Deputy CE for five years while holding his existing Corporate Group Manager portfolio. Mr Smit has been with SWDC for almost 12 years.

During this time Mr Smit has been instrumental in a number of successful projects including the establishment of the SWIF Trust, development of the Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal, iwi engagement and planning on the district’s $30 million wastewater treatment plant upgrades, Putāruru concept plan and growth planning, the district and Tokoroa public transport service, moving Council towards more effective community engagement, developing integrated planning and a risk/quality frameworks, and most recently three waters reform planning and analysis.

“I am very pleased that I am staying on in the local government sector, taking on the Chief Executive role at Waitomo District Council,” said Mr Smit. “I am looking forward to working with the Council team and Elected Members at Waitomo and helping develop their community in the future. I have a real passion for rural New Zealand and I am looking forward to the challenge.”

“When I spoke with the Mayor of Waitomo, I assured him that they were getting someone with great knowledge of the sector and council operations, someone who can steer Waitomo DC through the many changes facing all of local government, someone who is utterly committed to the job, his staff and his community,” said Mayor Jenny Shattock. “Mr Smit has provided Councillors and me with well-thought through, sage guidance and advice over the past decade. We may not have always agreed, but Mr Smit’s advice was always valuable and considered. I will miss him and wish him every success going forward.”

Council will be working with an agency on recruitment process options. At this stage Mr Smit’s last day will be 11 February 2022.

ENDS. Words: 321