New South Taranaki District chief returning to home base

New CEO Waid Crockett.

A former Stratford resident has been appointed as new chief executive of South Taranaki District Council.

South Taranaki District mayor Ross Dunlop says he's very pleased to announce the appointment of Waid Crockett to the position of chief executive for the South Taranaki District Council.

Ross says the standard of applicants for the position was extremely high.

"Waid has had 30 years of management experience in Local Government and other organisations in New Zealand and Australia.

"He has a strong reputation of working with people and building effective relationships at all levels," Ross says.

Waid is currently the general manager (chief executive) of the Upper Hunter Shire Council, which is based in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. There, he has developed a good reputation within Local Government across NSW and in the Hunter Valley and is currently on a number of working parties with the NSW State Government.

Waid, who was born in Stratford, says he is looking forward to coming home to Taranaki with his wife Soraya, joining the community and working with the STDC team.

"I have some strong family connections across Taranaki and I'm delighted and honoured to have been appointed to the role," says Waid.

"South Taranaki has a great lifestyle and is a spectacular part of New Zealand, all of which was a major attraction for us. This, along with the fantastic team that is already doing some great things for the community, makes this a really exciting opportunity and one I'm looking forward to."

Waid joins STDC in mid-January, 2018.