After 29 Years Council Chief Bids Farewell
Written by John Freer on October 24, 2024
By John Freer
On Friday, 1 November, a 29-year career with the Hauraki District Council comes to an end for its chief executive Langley Cavers.
Langley has held the senior role for 23 of those 29 years, that longevity is not uncommon for Hauraki District.
As he tells us the council is very stable with only two chief executives and three mayors since 1989.
High points during his career included the outcome for those who lost their homes in Waihi when old underground mines collapsed, to the Waihi streetscape initiative.
The state of the district’s infrastructure is another element he is proud of in leaving this in good order.
In leaving the role Langley knows it is time for a change and providing the opportunity for someone else to apply their influence.
Change for local government is something he talks about saying it is going to change and it needs to change.
That change though may not be in parallel with his thinking where central government sees councils more as service providers for them.
Langley is firm in his belief that local councils do have a role in local community wellbeing into the future even if it does occupy only 10 percent of council’s business.
Hear our detailed interview with Langley by opening the link below.