Council boss departs ‘all-consuming’ job

After six years in the “incredibly stimulating” role of Tasman District Council’s chief executive, Janine Dowding will leave the organisation at the end of month to let someone else “take the reins”.

“It’s an amazing role because there’s so much variety and it’s incredibly stimulating. You’re encountering different issues and topics every day.”

Janine arrived as the council was debating if it should proceed with the Waimea Community Dam.

Leading a council for the first time amidst the making of that massive decision was “really tough” but also provided a great learning experience for the council’s new chief executive.

“There really wasn’t a part of council that that project didn’t touch, so it was a valuable opportunity for me to learn about council,” Janine says.

Like the dam, many of council’s major challenges during her time as chief executive provided Janine with some of the real highlights of her tenure.

The “awful” 2019 Pigeon Valley wildfire brought out “the best in people” as the community rallied around those affected, while the Covid-19 pandemic provided the council the opportunity to make some much-needed changes, enabling greater agility and flexibility.

Janine says the council’s successes are the result of the collective efforts of those within and outside the organisation and is simply “proud to have been part of the team that has made these things happen.”

One of the council’s notable achievements during the last six years has been the development and progression of its relationship with iwi.

“We’ve got a way to go there, but there’s really deep commitment and an understanding of the value of those relationships.”

Despite enjoying the job, Janine acknowledges that it can be “tough gig” with periods of incredibly high stress and a need for endurance.

The rising amount of abusive behaviour being directed towards council staff “takes a toll” on people’s well-being, but being chief executive is also simply an “all-consuming job”.

“I wouldn’t say I go home and stress every night, but it’s very hard to switch off because there’s always so much happening,” she says.

Janine took the opportunity to consider her future and realities of her job as the end of her term approached, eventually deciding not to seek an extension to her contract.

After she finishes up at the council, Janine has no plans and will spend the next couple of months resetting and rebuilding her reserves.

“It just feels like a good time to let somebody else come in and take the reins.”

But it sounds like that somebody has big shoes to fill with Mayor Tim King praising Janine’s leadership during her final council meeting.

“There is no one I would have preferred to go through the last five years, and particularly the whole Covid experience, leading our organisation.”

Janine’s advice to her successor is to value and appreciate all the people both inside and outside the council who make Tasman what it is.

“We can do so much more together.”