FNDC chief executive Blair King (in orange coat) at the official June 2022 opening of the council's Sweetwater bore, commissioned to supplement Kaitāia's drinking water supply. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting / Susan Botting
Far North District Council is remaining tight-lipped about the details surrounding the resignation of its chief executive Blair King, less than a year into the job.
The council on Tuesday confirmed the resignation after Local Democracy Reporting questioning, saying that it "acknowledged" King's resignation, which was expected to be formally accepted by the council at its executive review committee meeting on Wednesday.
Far North District Council (FNDC) would not say why King resigned. He is currently on annual leave.
King's 11-month tenure is distinctive for how short it is.
Far North kahikā (mayor) Moko Tepania and Far North deputy mayor Kelly Stratford did not respond when Local Democracy Reporting asked for comment on King's departure.
King started with FNDC on 1 April last year. He is understood to have resigned from the council on Friday. Councillors were told of the resignation at the weekend.
The council's new temporary acting chief executive is FNDC group management people and transformation Jill Coyle.
FNDC was asked what King's last day at work was but the council did not respond to this question.
On Monday, King's automatic out-of-office email reply said he was on annual leave from 16 February until 20 February.
On 14 February, King went on a reconnaissance trip on the Defence Force's NH90 helicopter visiting Northland.
The trip was to check out Cyclone Gabrielle's flooding impacts, including in Ruawai and the Northern Wairoa River catchment, along with Whangārei's major Whareora slip.
His background includes having worked as an engineer with the New Zealand urban search and rescue (USAR) taskforce, which aided rescue efforts after earthquakes in Christchurch and Japan.
A council spokesperson said FNDC would soon start looking for a new chief executive.
"In the meantime, FNDC remains focused on the work that is in front of us. We recognise the great responsibility we have to our ratepayers, customers and partners to ensure that council operations continue to run smoothly," the spokesperson said.
There would be no further comment from the council on the matter, they said.
King was raised on a Tangowahine, Kaipara dairy farm. He started at FNDC after 12 years as chief executive for Tararua District Council, headquartered in Dannevirke, a position he left in October 2020.
When appointed to FNDC, King said he applied for the job because he believed the district had significant opportunities.
He was looking forward to working with the council to put in place infrastructure and services that would lift economic prospects and help the Far North thrive.
King replaced former FNDC chief executive Shaun Clarke who left the council in March 2022. Clarke had held the position for five years.
Clarke replaced acting chief executive Colin Dale who, at that time, became FNDC chief executive in 2014 for what was a three-year tenure after quitting his role as a KDC commissioner.
FNDC's Dave Edmunds served as the council's chief executive for four years prior to Dale until resigning at the end of 2013, after taking over in November 2009.
Dale was also acting FNDC chief executive for a short time from late 2008 until mid-2009 after the council's then-incumbent chief executive Clive Manley resigned.
Manley was chief executive for nine years and left his role in 2008.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
