Powhiri for new Northland Regional Council CEO

Northland Regional Council’s new chief executive has been formally welcomed to his new position with a powhiri by local kaumatua and kuia in Whangarei today.

New Northland Regional Council CEO Malcolm Nicholson, left, is greeted by kaumatua Te Warihi Hetaraka during today’s powhiri in Whangarei.

Former Far North Holdings Limited chief executive and Kawakawa resident Malcolm Nicolson replaces former CEO Ken Paterson, who left the council in July last year to head the Tauranga City Council.

Mr Nicolson, 54, who was accompanied at today’s powhiri by his wife Theresa and a delegation from the Far North, says he is looking forward to his new role and working positively with the many communities and groups which make up the region.

For the past 12 years Mr Nicolson – who hails from South Africa – has headed Far North Holdings Limited, which was set up by the Far North District Council in 1997 to handle its commercial activities.

He served as FNHL’s executive chairman from 1999 to 2008 and its chief executive from June 2008.

Regional council chairman Craig Brown says Mr Nicolson’s previous role will stand in him in good stead to lead the 140-plus strong council and the relationships developed during his time in the Far North will hopefully lead to closer ties between the various arms of local government in the North.