December 24, 2014

New manager appointed to Hastings pound

Hastings District Council has announced the appointment of Mr John Payne from Tauranga as the new manager of the Hastings Pound.

Acting Chief Executive John O’Shaughnessy says “Mr Payne was engaged by Council to review the Animal Control Service and his report was presented to Council on the 18th December 2014. The report was comprehensive and included a wide range of recommendations that are designed to improve the operation of the Council owned facility.”

John O’Shaughnessy says “The report identified a need to appoint a change manager who would undertake a review of the staff structure and functions of the Animal Control Unit. Council believes that Mr Payne gained a strong insight into the operation of the pound during the preparation of the report and is now in an ideal position to implement the changes that have been recommended in the review.”

Mr Payne will take up the position from mid-January 2015.

Background
John Payne became a Dog Control Officer in 1986 and worked in the field until 2008 when he took a wider management role in local government.

He has a tertiary qualification in the principles of canine behaviour and has produced several dog behaviour educational brochures, which have been extensively used throughout New Zealand and Australia. He was contracted to one of New Zealand’s largest electricity companies to address Meter Readers on dog bite prevention techniques.

Mr Payne has been involved in formulating submissions on dog control legislation, assisting with advice on dog matters to the Department of Internal Affairs and formulating “Good Practise” guidelines on dog control with the Local Government Association and the Society of Local Government Managers.

ENDS

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