Meet Taituarā member Claudia Wyss
Dr Claudia Wyss is the Director of Customer & Community Services at Auckland Council, starting in the role three weeks before the first lockdown in March 2020. In this profile she talks about some of the great mahi going on in various areas of her portfolios, her recent move into local government, as well as what she loves about Tāmaki Makaurau.
Meet Taituarā member John Ridd
John Ridd has played many different roles in his 18 years at Taupō District Council. Now General Manager Policy & Strategy in the Council's Executive Team, in this profile he tells us about developments he's currently most excited about, about people and growing talent in-house. He enthuses about the boom in investment into public infrastructure around his District and shares a rather dapper photo of him and his dance partner from a recent competition raising money for the Life Education Trust.
10:23 AM, 4 March 2022Meet Taituarā member Azoora Ali
Azoora Ali is Chief Financial Officer at Timaru District Council. Azoora and her family recently made a big move, relocating from Auckland to the South Canterbury town of Timaru, home to 48,000 people. In this profile she describes the way her team's work underpins day-to-day Council decision-making and provides the operational support that allows it to ensure positive outcomes for the community, including the development of a number of projects. She also mentions the penguins, farmers' market, walks and snow that she likes to take her young family to visit as well as her delight in her new 10-minute commute.
10:34 AM, 6 December 2021Meet Taituarā member Rachel Townrow
Rachel Townrow has worked at Buller District Council since 2007. In this time she has experienced a wide variety of roles, including community services, regulatory, policy, planning, and leadership positions. She's passionate about her region, its people, and stunning natural environment, and is currently working as the Council's Deputy Chief Executive. In this profile she talks about what she loves about the Buller District, the projects which excite her most, as well as the huge effort her Council is making to help the community recover following the July 2021 flood.
9:43 AM, 17 November 2021Meet Taituarā member Alistair Pearson
Ōtautahi Christchurch has witnessed a colossal building boom in recent years as it has recovered from the devastating earthquakes that shook the city just over ten years ago. In this profile Alistair Pearson from Christchurch City Council talks about his work as Manager of Vertical Capital Delivery Major Facilities. Alistair has overseen the delivery of many of the city's key construction projects, including the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena (CMUA), the keenly-anticipated stadium which is set to energise sport in the city. Alistair talks about his career path which led him from being a carpenter all the way to his current role guiding the roll-out of civic projects for the people of Christchurch. He also shares some of his favourite time-out activities like walking in the Port Hills, as well as mountain biking and craft beers.
4:39 PM, 8 September 2021Meet Taituarā member James Jefferson
With the country currently in a COVID-19-induced lockdown, councils across the motu are working extra hard to look after their communities. Kāpiti Coast District Council's James Jefferson tells us about how he is helping get the All of Government (AOG) COVID-19 key messages out in Kāpiti as well as things like stepping up the work of their foodbanks. James, who has served a long career in local government, also talks about how rewarding he finds the 'intimacy, immediacy and impact' of working alongside those in his community. He is also not short of praise for the Kāpiti region and what it offers.
9:48 AM, 25 August 2021Meet Taituarā member Anita Reedy-Holthausen
As Director of Engagement and Māori Responsiveness at Gisborne District Council, Anita Reedy-Holthausen is always excited about what her region does. In this profile she describes her role as well as projects such as the Council's new website, ten town upgrades, new playgrounds for local tamariki, a council tool for 'cultural safety', and other campaigns that allow her council to connect with its community. She also reveals her deep sense of connection with Te Tairāwhiti. how she loves getting away from it all on the family farm is Ruatōria, and the immense joy she gets from her sons being able to return to their turangawaewae.
9:02 AM, 5 August 2021Meet Taituarā member Helena Williams
Helena Williams is Manager Venues and Events at New Plymouth District Council. In this profile she tells us about projects she's excited about such as Lorde coming to the Bowl of Brooklands, waste and event sustainability, the Give a Shit campaign, and lots more amazing stuff that her team is doing. She also talks about the places she loves in Taranaki: the Coastal Walkway, beautiful black sand beaches, food truck delicacies at the Seaside Market, and of course their magnificent maunga.
2:48 PM, 27 July 2021Meet Taituarā member Marianna Brook
Marianna Brook is Senior Advisor to the Otago Mayoral Forum which aims to coordinate joint action between Central Otago District Council, Clutha District Council, Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council, Queenstown Lakes District Council, and Waitaki District Council. This big-picture role therefore makes her well-placed to be a member of the new Taituarā Resource Management Reform Reference Group (RMRG). In this profile she talks about her current work and the journey that brought her to working in local government. She also talks about some favourite sights and activities in Otago and her family's passive house project.
9:36 AM, 9 July 2021Meet Taituarā member Lucy Hicks
Environment Southland's Lucy Hicks is one of the members of the new Taituarā Resource Management Reform Reference Group. In this profile she tells us about some of the work she feels most passionate about as Policy and Planning Manager in a huge region encompassing such pristine jewels as Fiordland and Rakiura Stewart Island. She shares a tool for juggling competing demands as well as her inspiration for getting into local government. She also shares some favourite local spots and activities to chill out away from work at lunchtimes and at weekends.
Meet Taituarā member Jonathan Shaw
As Manager - Planning and Building Services at Invercargill City Council, Jonathan Shaw says he's 'been fortunate in working with a team of superstars'. In this profile he describes some of the innovations he and his team have brought to his community, as well as what led him into local government in the first place. Jonathan also tells us about the varied mix of sites and activities that Invercargill offers; its eateries, Civic Theatre, beautiful coastline, and hunting opportunities for those keen to go bush.
Meet Taituarā member Gavin Dawson
Gavin Dawson is a Governance Advisor at Kaipara District Council. In this profile Gavin describes the enormously wide-ranging work he performs on a multitude of topics, and tells us about the satisfaction he derives not just from the work itself, but also from seeing the real difference it makes in his community. He also shares some of his top picks for places to hang out with friends and family in Northland, as well as some personal projects he currently has on the go.
3:34 PM, 20 May 2021Meet Taituarā member Melissa Hollier
In this profile we feature Melissa Hollier who is a Corporate Planner at Rotorua Lakes Council. Melissa tells us a little about her work, and how a desire to help others with challenging issues including the housing crisis, climate change and economic recovery inspired her to work in local government. She also talks about her recent involvement with Taituarā, shares her top picks for fantastic food in Rotorua and why she loves being part of her rural community
Meet Taituarā member Sam Fellows
Sam Fellows is currently on a one-year secondment as the Manager of the Sustainability and Waste Division at Tauranga City Council. With the recent announcement of a $20.5 million Ministry for the Environment grant to Tauranga to reduce waste and improve recycling it’s an exciting time for sustainability in the city and Sam is right at the heart of it. He shares some insights from working in this hugely important area, his love of Tauranga and passion for working with others in his community.
10:45 AM, 29 March 2021Meet Taituarā member Mali Ahipene
Mali Ahipene describes her role as Pou Tūhono at Waikato Regional Council.
1:55 PM, 25 February 2021Meet Taituarā member Arlene Akhlaq
Arlene Akhlaq from Nelson City Council tells us about her work as Manager of Business Improvement.
Meet Taituarā member Helen Algar
We meet Helen Algar who tells us about her work as Community Development Manager at Waitaki District Council.
2:46 PM, 26 January 2021Meet Taituarā member Debra Bradley
Debra Bradley of Writing for Councils tells us about her business providing written communications for the local government sector.
2:55 PM, 15 September 2020