Outgoing Mackenzie mayor confirms appointment of chief executive

Acting Mackenzie District Council chief executive Angela Oosthuizen has been re-appointed on a five-year contract, the outgoing mayor has confirmed.

Oosthuizen, who was previously chief executive of the Kaikōura District Council, began working as a contractor on projects for the Mackenzie District Council in February 2021, including the 2021 – 2031 Long Term Plan and Te Manahuna Ki Uta (Destination Mackenzie) project.

She stepped into the role in an interim capacity following the departure of her predecessor Suzette Van Aswegen in November 2021, after Van Aswegen declined to extend her contract a further two years.

Outgoing Mackenzie mayor Graham Smith said he was “very pleased” to have secured Oosthuizen for a five-year term as one of his final acts as mayor.

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Smith said the council interviewed a “number of very good candidates”, but Oosthuizen’s “breadth of experience and knowledge” made her the obvious choice.

“We carried out a robust recruitment process, and we’re delighted to be able to re-appoint Angela to the position. Angela has significant local government leadership experience and has made a real impact in the short time she has been with us in the Mackenzie.”

Smith said both he and his councillors were confident Ooshuizen’s skills and experience mean she is “well-placed to lead the organisation through the up-coming local government reforms”.

In a statement, released by the council, Oosthuizen said she had enjoyed her time in the Mackenzie and is “looking forward to continuing to shape the organisation to better meet the needs of local communities” and to “prepare for the challenges and opportunities that reforms in the local government sector will bring”.

“I am very pleased to take up the permanent CEO role … I look forward to leading a great team through the changing local government landscape and changes from three waters and RMA reform and the Future of Local Government review.

“I am excited about kickstarting key projects identified in the Te Manahuna Ki Uta Destination Management Plan and Community Development planning for our three major townships.”

Mackenzie District Council was the last council in New Zealand to adopt its long term plan when it did so in October 2021, more than three months after the statutory deadline for final adoption, in breach of the Local Government Act.