Auckland Council has appointed Mat Tucker as Group Recovery Manager for the January floods and Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up and rebuild effort.
Council says it will be an initial 12-month fixed term appointment, with Mr Tucker (pictured) reporting directly to the council’s Chief Executive, Jim Stabback.
Chair of the selection panel, Mayor Wayne Brown, welcomed Mr Tucker to the Council.
“Mat is a highly capable leader with clear experience in resolving complex problems with creative solutions,” the Mayor said.
“An engineer, Mat is used to delivering projects on time and within or under budget. There is no question of his ability to deliver what is needed, which is what we are looking for.”
He said Mr Tucker had demonstrated strong large-scale programme leadership, especially on recovery work, having worked with both the Christchurch Recovery Infrastructure and Housing Rebuild Programmes.
Acting Recovery Manager, Phil Wilson, will return to his role as Governance Director. The move also coincides with the council’s Director Māori Outcomes, Herewini Te Koha (who has been acting Governance Director), taking up a Deputy Chief Executive role with the government’s Cyclone Recovery Unit in Wellington.
Mr Te Koha joined the council in August 2021 and has led the council’s Ngā Matarae team and contributed to a number of strategic programmes as part of the executive leadership team.
“In his new role Herewini will lead the cyclone recovery unit’s engagement and communications with councils, iwi and the business sector across the flood and cyclone affected regions,” said Mr Stabback.
“I fully expect he’ll continue to work with colleagues here at the council in support of the Auckland recovery effort.”
Mr Tucker will join the council on 26 April.
