Tauranga City Council chief executive resigns following landslide review

Tauranga City Council chief executive Marty Grenfell has resigned from his position. His final day in the role will be Friday, 2 October.

The resignation follows a review by former High Court judge Paul Davison KC into the January 22 landslide at the council-owned Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, which killed six holidaymakers. The review found the tragedy was preventable and that the landslide risk had been identified by consultants for over two decades.

Mayor Mahé Drysdale stated that the council will appoint an interim chief executive while beginning the recruitment process for a permanent replacement. Drysdale noted the council is seeking a leader with the expertise to drive change as they respond to the Davison review and other ongoing investigations.

Grenfell had previously expressed a determination to implement the review's recommendations and address organisational issues. While some reports link the departure to the review, a council statement did not explicitly state if the resignation was related to the findings.

How it developed

• Tue 29 Sep, 6:12pmThe resignation occurred after councillors held an emergency closed-door meeting regarding the Davison report.

Where reports differ

• One report states no reason was given for the departure, while others link the resignation to the damning landslide review.

Compiled from reports by 1News, NZ Herald, Stuff and The Post.