Building Inspector Hangs Up Tool Belt After More Than Three Decades Service
Tuesday 30 March 2010, 12:28PM
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There would not be many buildings within Hurunui Kevin Roberts hasn’t had a hand in building. It’s not that he’s hammered in the nails or framed them up, exactly, but for more than three decades he’s been the person responsible for ensuring they comply with building regulations in the district.
He retires today after 33 years on the job, during which time, Deputy Mayor, Michael Malthus conservatively estimates Kevin Roberts has probably processed in excess of 10,000 building consents – at a rate of around 300 a year.
Not only that, his eye for detail is credited with ensuring the structural integrity of residences against the leaky homes problems experienced in many other areas of the country.
Acknowledging the significance of his tenure, Councillor Malthus, today reminded the Council how rare it is in today’s environment to have the opportunity to celebrate the dedication of an individual staying with the same employer for such a long period of time.
“In the era Kevin and I grew up in you took a job for life, whereas, the younger generation today factors in three to four career changes in a lifetime.” Kevin Roberts has worked across eleven electoral cycles under four different Mayors (or their equivalents), reporting to three different Chief Executives, since he first began working as a sole charge building inspector with the then merging Ashley and Waipara County Council’s in 1976.
In those early days he had responsibility for a large territory and often had to cover other roles in the Council for which, at that time, there was no in-house expertise, such as planning. He has seen the environment around him change substantially since taking on his initial role. He has been part of numerous changes in reporting lines and office relocations.
Michael Malthus has personal experience of Kevin Robert’s commitment to customer service, during the many building projects he has undertaken himself, in the District. “I have never had reason to fault his work. Kevin is solutions based, so even if something fell off the track, it was a case of how do we fix it. That was the nature of the man.”
He remembers well Kevin Roberts ‘signature’ on building consent applications. “Whenever the documents came back the first thing we would do was searching for his ‘red pen marks’ indicating variations or areas where changes would be needed.” Kevin Roberts and his family have a long association with the Hurunui District.
His parents owned a farm in Culverden, which is still farmed by his brother today. On leaving school, Kevin completed an apprenticeship with the local carpentry and building company owned by the Marshall Brothers before also establishing a mixed farming property and heading business in the area.
It was only after he married his wife Marion that Kevin Roberts decided to try something new and moved north to Blenheim, where his career in central and local government began as a carpenter with the Marlborough Catchment Board. He later also conducted building inspections for the State Advances (the forerunner of Housing New Zealand).
On starting their family, Kevin and Marion, decided it was time to move closer to home, taking up what has become a 34 year labour of love working in local government in the Hurunui District. He says the reason he has stayed so long is that he simply had “no good reason to leave.” “A building officer in the city might only do bits and pieces, whereas I did everything. My job was varied and interesting and brought me into contact with a lot of great people. I never felt the need to change jobs or move on; I always felt I had the whole lot right here.”
Friday March 26th will be Kevin Roberts official last day with the Hurunui District Council, though he’s not planning full-on retirement just yet. He has promised to fill in from time to time for staff on leave.