Upper Hutt City Council chief executive Geoff Swainson is stepping down.
By Justin Wong, Local Democracy Reporter
He declined to renew his three-year contract that started in November 2023. Swainson had already told councillors of the decision, the council said in a statement on Tuesday. His final day is Thursday.
The Council statement did not address why Swainson was not finishing his full term through to November.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Upper Hutt City Council and want to acknowledge the work of all council staff and to thank them for their commitment to serving the community in so many ways,” he said, via the statement.
The council said it had already started recruiting for a new chief executive.
Hailing from Wairoa at Tairāwhiti, Swainson joined the council in July 2017 as its asset management and operations director to oversee infrastructure and services, before taking over the reins from Peter Kelly in 2023.
Before moving to Upper Hutt, he was the infrastructure and economic development manager at Local Government New Zealand and managed the transport network at Wellington City Council.
Mayor Peri Zee thanked Swainson for his contribution to the city.
“On behalf of council, the community and staff I’d like to thank Geoff for his contribution to Upper Hutt over the past nine years and to the local government sector over his lifetime. I wish him all the best.”
– Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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