Warm Welcome Impresses New Kaipara District Council Finance Manager

Winter in Dargaville is a far cry from Niue’s 30 degrees but Kaipara District Council’s new Finance Manager Mike Fleming says the warm welcome here has made up for the drop in temperature.

Mike, who brings a wealth of experience including Central and Local Government, Government Departmental and Health Board Administration, took up his new position on 25 May. He replaces Bruce Holden who held the position for 10 years and whose expertise will continue to be available through a part-time strategic support role.

Mike grew up in Fielding and obtained a Bachelor of Business Studies at Massey University before spending 10 years in the Health Service, four as Treasurer for the Hawkes Bay Health Board.

A change in direction for the next seven years saw him running the treasury departments for, first, the Cook Islands and then the Niue Governments.

This was followed by financial positions in Government Departments in Auckland before becoming Finance Manager with Kawerau District Council in 2005.

But ten months later he received a call from the Premier of Niue asking him to assist in sorting out some serious financial problems after two and a half years and he returned to New Zealand in February.

Mike and his wife Suzanne describe themselves as “outdoors people”, with trout fishing and tramping high among Mike’s interests.

“I wanted to live and work in a rural area like Kaipara,” he says “I grew up in a country town and like the fact that you are close to the community and part of it.”

Kaipara had already made a good impression on their first visit five years ago. “We had a call from Australian friends travelling in New Zealand, saying they had found this wonderful place and to come and join them at Baylys Beach. We loved it.”

As new residents they continue to be impressed by the “good old fashioned values” they have encountered and are looking forward to becoming more involved in the community.

“Everyone is very friendly and if you are in the street or walking on the beach people come up to you and say hello. It wouldn’t happen in a lot of other places.”

Chief Executive Jack McKerchar has warmly welcomed Mike to his team, saying ”he brings a wide range of experience and skills which, combined with his obvious enthusiasm for Kaipara will make him a very valuable addition to our staff.

He also expressed special thanks to Bruce Holden for his thorough and professional approach. “He has been a magnificent servant, responsible for improving our financial systems to the point where Council is held up by our auditors as an example of a council with good financial management systems. This is something Bruce can be proud of.”

Mayor Neil Tiller has also congratulated Bruce on his achievements and is pleased that his expertise will be retained. He is looking forward to working with Mike, saying “He has big shoes to fill but I am sure he will be a great asset to the whole Council.”