Incoming Tauranga City Council Chief Executive Marty Grenfell can’t wait to ‘get his teeth into’ what he knows will be a “complex, dynamic and challenging job”.
He aims to bring a pragmatic, no-fuss approach to his role and says that while he is employed by the Council, he works for the community.
“In my view, the key to success is aligning the expectations of the community, the interests and enthusiasm of elected members and the capability of the organisation to deliver the desired outcomes. The greater the synergy between the community and council, the better the results will be,” he says.
A seasoned official
Marty’s career has involved a range of senior public service roles spanning a period of more than 35 years. He served in the NZ Police, rising through the ranks to become Area Commander for Wellington City.
He then joined the local government sector, leading the Community Services groups at the Upper Hutt City Council and Hutt City Council before taking on the Chief Executive role at the Whakatāne District Council in 2011.
“I’ve absolutely loved my time in the eastern Bay of Plenty, and the opportunity I’ve had to build a strong, collaborative organisational culture and develop meaningful and effective partnerships with the community,” he continues.
Creating a team culture was a key focus, which Marty believes underpinned the progress the Whakatāne District Council has made in delivering quality, innovative and affordable community services.
Looking ahead
He intends to do “a lot of listening” over the coming months and is looking forward to soaking up the knowledge and advice that people with a stake in Tauranga City have to offer. “I’m sure everyone will have a view on what’s right, wrong, or indifferent about our city and I’ll be listening intently.
“I’m sure the first few months will be back-to-back meetings with people who have an interest in the current and future state of the city. That will involve staff, elected members and others in the community who are influential across the commercial and social sectors. It is also likely to include a range of supporters and protagonists of what the Council has been trying to achieve, and I will welcome all of those views.”
He says he has no doubt that everyone in Council wants to be part of an organisation that is appreciated and respected by the community. “Council staff want to be proud of the job they do and the organisation they represent. I’ll be working hard with the team to achieve that.”
Marty and his wife Clare will be relocating from Whakatāne and intend to become part of the fabric of the Tauranga community. “We believe that local government leadership requires full commitment to the community, both on and off the job, so we’re looking to get involved and contribute where we can to the organisations and activities that make Tauranga City such a great place to live.”
Their four adult children will also enjoy the opportunity to visit and holiday in Tauranga.
