"He is very popular with both staff and council because he sets high standards but he makes sure people get the right training and have the right tools to continue making improvements and we have seen that right through council to the point now that we are actually going to go to the second round of the excellence programme," Cameron said.
Manley said he was looking forward to continuing to implement the council's vision for the development of safe, prosperous rural communities.
"Despite the impact and challenges of Covid-19 the council is committed to maintaining essential services while doing all we can to aid our economic and social recovery.
"I would encourage Ruapehu residents and ratepayers to have every confidence in Ruapehu's future and the opportunities before us," he said.
Cameron said staff were told earlier this week.
"And boy did I get a lot of whole calls saying 'thank god for that'.
"It's not a job you ever feel safe in. We are extremely lucky to have someone like Clive in a rural setting because I know there are plenty of metros that would love to have him," Cameron said.