Rangitikei chief Ross McNeil gets nod for two more years

Ross McNeil has been chief executive of the Rangitikei District Council since 2013. Photo/ Bevan Conley

Rangitikei District Council has re-appointed its chief executive Ross McNeil for a further two years.

Mr McNeil replaced Clare Hadley in March 2013 following a long stint with the Waipa District Council in the Waikato region.

"I've certainly enjoyed the work and the challenge but also the opportunity," he said.

"And it's always good to have a great bunch of people to work with both the staff and elected members."

Mr McNeil said he was happy with his re-appointment and was keen to stay given the unfinished business which had started under his tenure.

"We've got a couple of major projects in terms of town centre development," he said.

"We are well advanced with the Bulls project as well as looking at Marton and Taihape."

The council is also due to begin a period of upgrading infrastructure particularly around wastewater as the related resource consents.

"There's a lot going on here, a lot of opportunity and of course we've got the next long term plan coming together," Mr McNeil said.

Under the Local Government Act the council is allowed to re-appoint for a maximum of two years before it has to re-advertise the role.

Rangitikei mayor Andy Watson said Mr McNeil's re-appointment was important in terms of the work council was undertaking.

"This gives us stability at a time where we have to deal with a number of ongoing work programmes and we value his expertise and leadership," he said.