Secretary 2022/23: Michael Archer

 

 

 

 

Present: President Jan Dempsey; David Brownson; Owen McCluggage; Murray Gillespie,   Stephen Bovett, Wally Garrett, Geoff Harding, Harry Duynhoven,  David Lusk, Michael Archer, John Pitman, Des Friedrich, Gary Brown, Simon Northrop. Tony Bird

 

Guests :Marie Brown, Gareth Green- Guest Speaker

 

Apologies , Sally Morch, David Gibson, LOA Wally Garrett, LOA Ian Smiley

 

Simon Northrop welcomed everyone especially guest  speaker Gareth Green and Marie Brown

                 

Introduction given by Judy Hanline

 

Fines : Des Friedrich- fined all the members that didn't turn up to the working bee at The Forest of Peace and Remembrance on Sunday- not that we were told about it Des!!

 

3 Minute Talk- Gary Brown

 

Gary spoke about a memoir he had just read written by Sir Roy McKenzie.  In Gary's opinion he would have been the most effective member ever in District 9940. He joined Rotary in1953, President in 1968. Amongst his many achievements were the establishment of: Birthright (for solo parents), Outward Bound, NZ Refuge and many educational Trusts. The J R Mckenzie Trust was founded by his father but continued to prosper through Roy's efforts.

Gary new him personally had even played Tennis against him, he was a gifted sportsman too.  He died in 2007 .

 

 

Guest Speaker: Gareth Green CEO New Plymouth District Council

 

 

Gareth said that it was fitting that he should be back at the venue where he was interviewed by a large number of Councillors including Harry not that long ago.

Also pleased to be talking in his first public engagement to a Rotary Club because he and his wife had been Rotarians in Taupo and involved in establishing a new club to attract younger members there. He mentioned the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge(around the lake) a Rotary project thats been going for many years that they've been involved with recently.

 

he was born in the Central North Island- his father was in Lands and Survey- now DOC and  moved regularly around the country almost 2 yearly to  Chatham Island, Fiordland, Whakapapa, Hauraki Gulf. Felt privileged to experience these places growing up because it built resilience in adapting to the challenges of growing up.  No stability however. His latter years of schooling were in Taupo.

 

He went to Massey to study Environmental Planning attracted to Palmerston for the colourful student life.After graduating with Honours he spent time in Whangarei District Council- consents officer dealing with the RMA good intro to local government and the colourful life in the north dealing with removal of car bodies, dogs etc.

 

Spent a brief period in wellington with DOC (following his father) enjoyed the experience of being in a passionate organisation.

 

He missed the Local Government life and was attracted to New Plymouth for the first time 24 years ago. Spent 4 years as a monitoring consent team leader, loved Taranaki.

 

He was attracted to the Taupo District Council shortly after rising to CEO 8 years ago. Which he thought would be the Pinacle of his Local Government Career. He met his wife Kylie there whose now  Events General Manager for Major Events, New Zealand including the upcoming FIFA World cup for women!

 

They have 3 children 2 boarding at schools out of New Plymouth and one going to Central School.

 

His passion is to be involved with controversial transformational things.

He cited the dissolution of the Turangi Community Board replaced by a Cogovernance Trust- Iwi/council for Turangi which is better able to deal with Treaty grievances through compulsory land acquisitions when the town was set up by the then Ministry of Works.

 

Recognising that 25% of Taupo's economy is in Tourism there has been a conscious move towards high value tourism particularly since Covid, through Government grants assistance, converting the camping ground into a music bowl i.e. Bowl of Brooklands as a recent outcome. People now coming to Taupo for events.

 

When the opportunity came up to apply for the CEO position in New Plymouth it was a no brainer that he should apply as New Plymouth was always at the top of his list to come to.

 

He's only been here 4 weeks, has purchased a house and moved his family. His wife can continue to do her job with good Air services to destinations planning events that she's involved in.

 

He's been very impressed with the passion shown by both councillors and staff alike already. Impressed with what's been achieved by the Council with world class facilities and staff operating them, also that the council is addressing climate change and has a good relationship with Iwi.

 

He sees many funding opportunities beyond the local existing Toi Foundation to develop the Sports Hub and Destination Play. He's keen to engage the community and would be pleased to work on any Rotary Project opportunities particularly to encourage a greater buy in by young people to engage with the council and more particularly vote at election time. His door will always be open to engage with Rotary either individually or as a group.

 

Thanks-Michael Archer

 

In thanking Gareth he thanked him for taking the time to speak to us so candidly and early in his tenure and wished him well in the future, commenting that it would be great to hear from him in a years time about progress made.

 

 

Reminded members that it is their responsibility to arrange roster substitutes if they are apologising.

 

The Greeter should stay at the door before the meeting starts.

 

Jan congratulated Harry on the great range of speakers he was delivering to the club

 

 

Please advise Judy that you will be coming and discuss with her an appropriate dish you'll bring

 

Contact telephone Number:0210539755

Email: jfhanline@gmail.com

 

 

Wally Garrett is away for 6 weeks returning early June.

 

Michael Archer and Murray Gillespie will be handling apologies in his absence.

 

Michael will send an email out to members separately with contact details.

 

 

Rotary has a 4 year management responsibility.

 

Working Bees will be Tuesday's and Sunday's 10-00-12.00 to mainly release weeds from plants preventing growth. He estimates this will take about 10 days. 

 

 

John indicated that the property tidy up he spoke about last week was being sorted out by family members although he reiterated that rotarians could still help if needed. 

 

 

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies"