Kaipara hunts for new chief executive

Jason Marris has resigned as chief executive of Kaipara District Council to take up the role of general manager of Kaipara Maurikura, the operational arm of Kaipara Moana Remediation (KMR).

Marris served as a general manager at Kaipara for three-and-a-half years before becoming interim chief executive in October 2022 and accepting the permanent role in February 2023. His last day will be April 10.

Marris’ time as chief executive included Cyclone Gabrielle, the Mangawhai rainfall event and the Mangawhai tornado, as well as significant government reform. During this period, he oversaw the reintegration of roading services back inhouse, a Long Term Plan focused on recovery from extreme weather events, a new proposed District Plan, two water service delivery models, three elections and delivery of many other key programmes and initiatives, including hundreds of millions of dollars in capital works across the district.

“I feel incredibly proud of the work that’s been achieved in my time here,” he said. “Kaipara will always have a special place in my heart.”

In his new role, Marris will lead a 12-strong team at Kaipara Maurikura, a collaboration to reduce the impact of sediment on the mauri of Kaipara Moana, Aotearoa’s largest harbour system which spans 6000 square kilometres across both Northland and Auckland, including more than 8000km of rivers and streams.

The organisation’s long-term goal is to halve sediment flows into the Kaipara. Across the headwaters of the key river system catchments, KMR invests in projects to restore wetlands, fence off rivers and streams, and plant trees or regenerate forest in the riparian margins and on erosion-prone areas.

Mayor Jonathan Larsen wished Marris the best for this next chapter and thanked him for the work he had carried out for Kaipara District.

Council is now working through the process of recruiting a new chief executive.