Waikato District Council welcomed new chief executive, Craig Hobbs, at its Ngāruawāhia council chambers last week.
A pōwhiri was attended by more than 100 people including representatives from other councils, iwi, business and community leaders and Turangawaewae marae.
Mayor Jacqui Church expressed her enthusiasm about Hobbs’ appointment, saying he was a leader who was respectful, collaborative, dynamic and looking for the future.
Hobbs has experience working in local government and executive roles including at Paralympics New Zealand, the National Maritime Museum, South Waikato District Council and Auckland Council.
“I’ve got a lot to learn about Waikato District Council, about Waikato Tainui and local iwi, my guarantee to you is that I will be on that journey and walk alongside you,” he said. “I am very collaborative, and I like working in partnership with to build on the great things that the Waikato District Council team; staff, mayor and councillors have been working on.”
Paying tribute to outgoing chief executive Gavin Ion, for his 20 years’ service Hobbs said, “I promise I won’t break your legacy, and we will carry on and grow.”
Ion will stay on at council until June to complete the Local Waters Done Well project.
Craig Hobbs
