‘Delight And Relief’ As Ashburton Council Boss Reappointed

Sunday, 16 March 2025, 8:59 pm
Article: Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

March 13, 2025

Hamish Riach says he is ready to steer the Ashburton District through major projects and political shifts as he begins his second term as chief executive.

He will be in the top job for the next five years and, with seven years in the role behind him, Riach said he was ready to tackle the challenges during a period of significant change.

With the distraction of the employment process in the rearview mirror, he said he can focus on the "big stuff" coming up.

“We have water reforms, [Ashburton's second] bridge, we have to land the annual plan, and an election to plan - so there's a bit going on.”

He described his reappointment as a mix of "delight and relief", adding that Ashburton has become home for him.

His wife Jane works in the library meaning that during the day he is the boss, and jokes “perhaps that changes when I get home”.

“We make it work.”

Jane is doing some fantastic work with the outreach programmes, he said.

The couple moved to Ashburton when he got the top job in 2018, after 17 years as chief executive of the Crusaders Super Rugby franchise.

Although he had previous experience in local government, he said there was still an adjustment period during his first year.

"It took a while, but I felt really supported by the mayor, councillors, staff, and the community.”

Reflecting on his first seven years, Riach pointed to key milestones of navigating through the Covid pandemic, securing funding for the second bridge, and overseeing the construction of Te Whare Whakatere, the town’s library and civic centre.

"I take a great deal of pride in Te Whare Whakatere."

The community asked the council to do it once and do it right, pushing for the bigger, more expensive option, he said. To see the building buzzing daily was gratifying, he added.

Another achievement he highlighted was upgrading the Methven and Mt Somers water treatment plants, ending years of boil water notices.

Covid impacted the council business, delayed Te Whare Whakatere and had an impact at home.

His grown-up daughters had left home but Covid resulted in a temporary return of one daughter and her family.

“It was a joy to get to know our grandkids daily.

“It certainly changed the vibe around home, but we really enjoyed it.”

The golf course provides an escape from the office, playing at the Ashburton Golf Club “on a 19 handicap and struggling”.

“As someone who spends a lot of time sitting inside meetings, it's nice to stretch the legs.

"It’s exercise, fresh air, and it’s frustrating and fulfilling.”

He plays with “different people from all walks of Ashburton life” every weekend and acknowledged he does get the odd bit of feedback while walking the course.

Riach said he is committed to his role and believes “one of the most freeing decisions” he has made was quitting social media.

“I deleted it all, except for some family WhatsApp chats.”

He said he wasn’t oblivious to public sentiment but doesn’t get sucked into trawling through online comments.

Being chief executive isn’t a 9-5 role – there is a lot of reading, late meetings and travel, and the pressure of being a figurehead of the organisation, he said.

When the reappointment process was looming at the end of last year, he said he knew he wanted to continue helping to shape the future of the district.

He had completed the maximum term of employment permitted under the Local Government Act so had to reapply for the role.

The reappointment process was a necessary formality, and he acknowledged it was unusual for the chief executive to be locked out of discussions about council business.

"I was treated like any other candidate.”

Looking ahead to the next five years, he said councils are facing a changing landscape.

“There is a current environment around local government that is decidedly uncertain in terms of form and function.”

The council is progressing with the Government’s water reforms while there is a host of other reform changes, like the Resource Management Act, to contend with, he said.

“Those things are all at various stages of being in play, under review, or happening right now so we are carrying on the work instead of starting afresh.

“There is a greater degree of familiarity with the issues, the people, and with the district which I didn’t have the first time around.”

His role is managing people.

The councillors set the policy and work programme and allocate the resources and then Riach ensures the council “gets the work done”.

Riach believes the best outcomes are achieved when there is a healthy respect between governance and management.

He feels fortunate that the Ashburton council has “a stable working relationship that respects each other’s roles”.

It's why Riach said he is confident the Ashburton District is poised to navigate the challenges ahead.

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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