Colin Dale to continue in part-time roles

Colin Dale will continue to serve as a Kaipara district commissioner

Colin Dale will continue to serve as a Kaipara district commissioner while working as the acting chief executive officer for the Far North District Council, with his work on the upper rungs of the local government ladder expected to bring him an estimated $4250 a week from the two part-time roles.

Mr Dale was reappointed as interim FNDC CEO on Friday.

The chairman of the four Kaipara commissioners, John Robertson, said Mr Dale worked one or two days a week on his Kaipara duties. "None of us is full-time," Mr Robertson said, explaining he worked an average of three days a week, but as chairman was on call every day.

The Kaipara District Council 2012/13 annual report records the council paid Mr Robertson $163,800 from the time the commission was appointed on September 6, 2012, to June 30, 2013.

Commissioner Richard Booth received $45,000 over the same period and commissioner Peter Winder got $50,400.

Mr Dale received $67,950 which, if he worked two days a week over the 10 months, or 86 days, is payment of just under $800 a day, substantially less than the $1270 a day paid to Mr Robertson for his 129 days of work.

But now that Mr Dale is back on the Far North District Council (FNDC) payroll, his earnings could surpass that of his Kaipara boss. The FNDC 2008/09 annual report records he received $124,000 when acting as CEO for the council between September 2008 and May 2009.

Mr Dale told the Northern Advocate he had worked about three days a week for the FNDC back then and would probably put at least that amount of time into the job this time around.

At three days a week or 108 days over the nine months in 2008/09 he earned about $1150 a day. If he doesn't take a pay cut in Kaikohe, his two part-time jobs should now bring him in an estimated $4250 a week.

His earnings are far from excessive in the upper ranks of local government. Steve Ruru, chief executive of the small Kaipara council, received a $250,313 package in 2012/13.

Mr Dale is also an adviser to Watercare Services and governor of the Auckland Sport and Recreation Reference Group. He said he enjoyed the challenges of his work and was looking to find a "happy blend" dovetailing his Kaipara and Far North roles.

The 75-year-old does not believe retirement is an issue for those with something still to offer to the community.