New Napier City Council chief executive Louise Miller is keen to show the city by the sea a little bit of love as she settles into the role and looks to bring some stability. Louise is regarded as an experienced leader of transformational change and the timing of her arrival couldn’t have been more welcomed. The city and Hawke’s Bay is in the early stages of the recovery phase from the region’s most significant natural disaster since the 1931 Earthquake. The council, faces many challenges, the cyclone recovery as well as building new civic centre premises, local government transformation, land use and investment in 3 waters infrastructure.

What has been the attraction/appeal to the role with NCC?
It brings great opportunities to work with a city council that has retained a number of key assets, which gives us the chance to provide community services that are really important to people. What are your personal attributes that you offer to the organisation and the people of Napier?
I am passionate about organisational transformation and organisations that might need a little love and a little help to get back on track.

To date what has been the most challenging experience you’ve had in local government?
Rebuilding a council that was still dealing with the fallout from the Mangawhai wastewater works with ratepayers not paying rates and commissioners being moved in.

You are taking over at a very challenging time – what will be some of your key focus areas over the next 6-12 months?
Culture first and foremost. Building trust across the organisation. Looking at our very large capital expenditure programme of works, ensuring we are working well with counterparts across Hawke’s Bay to create solid recovery. Preparing community for good conversations about our Long Term Plan.

Have you assessed the damage to Napier from the cyclone & flooding?

The city and Hawke’s Bay is in the early stages of the recovery phase from the region’s most significant natural disaster since the 1931 Earthquake. The council, faces many challenges, the cyclone recovery as well as building new civic centre premises, local government transformation, land use and investment in 3 waters infrastructure.

What has been the attraction/appeal to the role with NCC?
It brings great opportunities to work with a city council that has retained a number of key assets, which gives us the chance to provide community services that are really important to people. What are your personal attributes that you offer to the organisation and the people of Napier?
I am passionate about organisational transformation and organisations that might need a little love and a little help to get back on track.

To date what has been the most challenging experience you’ve had in local government?
Rebuilding a council that was still dealing with the fallout from the Mangawhai wastewater works with ratepayers not paying rates and commissioners being moved in.

You are taking over at a very challenging time – what will be some of your key focus areas over the next 6-12 months?
Culture first and foremost. Building trust across the organisation. Looking at our very large capital expenditure programme of works, ensuring we are working well with counterparts across Hawke’s Bay to create solid recovery. Preparing community for good conversations about our Long Term Plan.