New Manager for Tararua Alliance

After an extensive recruitment process the Tararua Alliance have appointed David Te Maro-Geary as their new manager.

Geary, from Christchurch will join the Alliance team in early July, Raj Suppiah, the Tararua District Council's Chief Financial Officer, said.

"Chris Chapman, the previous manager, did a great job and when he left us in May last year to move to Canada, we began a large interview process to find the right replacement," Suppiah said. "The Tararua Alliance has been in operation almost six years and what we wanted in a manager was someone who could work with the existing high-performing team which has a mix of skills and older and younger staff.

"The new manager had to be able to lead the team and be led by the team as they are a unique team with great skills.

"We are expecting a lot. There is a good team at the Alliance and Council will provide good support."

Suppiah said they didnot want to settle on just having a manager for the sake of a manager.

"David brings quite a different set of skills," he said. "We don't need another engineer. We wanted someone who is innovative, a person with leadership skills and someone who is customer focused, with a strategic outlook and someone who isnot afraid to be led by others."

Geary is someone who is very comfortable to bring the Alliance and Council together, show leadership and build relationships, Suppiah said.

The Tararua Alliance is a collaborative working partnership between Council and Downer NZ and Lyall Hedges, the general manager, Lower North Island, for Downer, worked with the Principals Group which governs the Alliance, on the selection process.

"We recently signed a new contract with Downer for the continuation of the Tararua Alliance for the next 10 years and we wanted a manager who can work with council, manage a team and start creating a new paradigm for the future," Suppiah said.