Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce boss Murray Douglas has entered the running for a regional council seat.
He'll stand in the Hastings constituency in the October local body elections.
The orchard owner and former local government manager promised to bring a focus on looking after the environment.
He said the regional council had
been slow to address issues relating to its core roles of managing land, air and water.
"It hasn't achieved all it should have achieved," he said.
Mr Douglas said he'd also work to make the organisation more efficient.
"Rates have gone up considerably in the last 10 years, but we haven't seen a lot of outcomes.
"As I've got a long background in business and local government, I reckon I can make a lot of difference in that area."
Mr Douglas has served as CEO of the Waikato Regional Council, and later headed up Dunedin City Holdings, Moonee Valley in Victoria, Australia, and the City of Sydney.
He moved to Hawke's Bay for the "weather and lifestyle" three years ago, and now owns a small commercial orchard near Havelock North with his partner Helen.
The cherry, nectarine and apricot orchard has been partly converted to figs, and Mr Douglas said one of his interests is finding new crops that will work in the region.
He is also chairman of Opera Hawke's Bay.
Also in the running for regional council is Tom Belford, editor of website BayBuzz, and sitting councillor Kevin Rose.
Local government elections are held in October. Nominations for candidates close on August 20.
