From departing CHB CEO, to better ASB ranking for HB, to cheese appreciation, to critical bridge upgrade, to Bay’s Kiwibank awards semi-finalists, to boat biosecurity, to dams & streams dashboard, to new HDC leaders, here are some items of note you might have missed.

CHB Council chief exec to depart

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council Chief Executive Doug Tate has announced that he will be stepping down in mid-March 2026 after nearly four years at the helm, to become the new Chief Executive of Whanganui District Council.  

Central Hawke’s Bay Mayor Will Foley said he regretfully accepted Tate’s resignation earlier in the week.  

Mayor Foley commented: “During his tenure Doug has confidently steered the Council through significant challenges, including the district’s response to Cyclone Gabrielle and the complexities of recovery. He’s championed the building blocks of the district’s future, including housing growth and spatial planning, changes to water services delivery, all while lifting operational and contractual performance and reporting in key activities like land transport across Council.”

Tate remains in his current role until mid-March 2026. Mayor Will Foley and Councillors will commence the process of confirming interim and longer-term arrangements to employ a new Chief Executive in the New Year. 

ASB ranks Hawke’s Bay #11 of 16 regions

Best ranking of last four quarters. Here’s ASB’s latest assessment of HB economy: strong construction activity, elevated consumer confidence, good house price growth. But that weighed don by weakness in the housing market, retail sales and car registrations.

Say cheese

Looking for a great diversion for your self or visitors over the holidays and summer?

Think cheese … courtesy of HB’s internationally acclaimed cheese maven, Juliet Harbutt. From tastings to wine & cheese clubs. Check out Juliet’s newsletter.

Ngaruroro River Bridge to be upgraded

From Transportation Minister Chris Bishop: “Temporary restrictions on the Ngaruroro River bridge have been in place since October 2022 after an assessment identified that, while the bridge was structurally safe to use, it did not have the capacity to sustain heavy traffic demands. 

“Total project costs are expected to be around $10–$20 million. Design and consenting is now complete and NZTA will be engaging with stakeholders in the coming months. Construction is expected to start in 2026 and take approximately 11 months to complete. 

“Once the strengthening work is completed, current restrictions on the bridge will be removed, and the bridge will become suitable for High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMVs) and 50MAX configurations. This is a considerable upgrade, as the bridge has never been suitable for these types of vehicles, even before the 2022 restrictions were put in place.”

In the meantime, the current 30km/h speed limit and weight restrictions will remain in place, to protect the bridge and ensure it can continue to be used safely.

3 HBers make Kiwibank Awards semi-finalists

Young New Zealander of the Year: Harlem-Cruz Ihaia is a 27-year-old wāhine Māori leader, mother of five (including two whāngai she welcomed at age 20), and founder of one of Aotearoa’s most comprehensive Māori-led whānau empowerment ecosystems.

Local Hero of the Year: Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod is a distinguished Māori leader, reo revitalisation strategist, and grassroots visionary who has dedicated his life to strengthening identity, belonging, and cultural integrity across Aotearoa. He serves as a Commissioner on Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, advises iwi and government through his consultancy Kauwaka, and mentors rangatahi and whānau.

Community of the Year: For almost seventy years, Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay has stood as a place where people with intellectual disabilities and their families across Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke’s Bay walk alongside one another in dignity, purpose, and belonging.

Clean boats please!

With boating season approaching, HB Regional Council urges boaties to help protect the region’s coastal environment by ensuring boat hulls, anchors, and equipment are kept clean.

Under the region’s Pest Management Plan, all vessels entering regional waters must have a properly cleaned and anti-fouled hull, with no more than a light slime layer and/or goose barnacles.

Marine pests can easily hitch a ride on hulls, anchors, trailers, and other gear. Ensuring vessels are clean before leaving and entering Hawke’s Bay is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stop these species spreading.

HBRC Senior Biosecurity Advisor Alice McNatty says: “Two pests we’re particularly concerned about are Mediterranean fanworm and clubbed tunicate. These species are already causing significant problems in other regions, where they outcompete native marine life and alter entire ecosystems and negatively impact the marine environment.”

Havelock North dams & streams dashboard

A new online dashboard giving residents real-time water level information for Karanema Havelock North’s dams and streams has been launched by Hastings District Council. The dashboard brings together live data from sensors across the five dams and the streams into which they feed (Herehere, Mangarau, Te Kahika, School and Karituwhenua), showing how water levels are changing during rainfall.

Residents can view the dashboard online here: http://hastingsdc.govt.nz/hndashboard

New committee leadership for HDC

For those who follow Hastings Council business …

Hastings District Council has confirmed its new committee structure, Mayor Wendy Schollum says the structure makes it easier for residents to understand how decisions are made, strengthens accountability, and reflects the practical needs of Hastings’ rural, coastal and urban communities. 

“At a time when we need to stay focused on core work – our infrastructure, our financial responsibilities and cyclone recovery – it’s important that our leadership structure reflects the different parts of Hastings and the practical realities people face across our rural, coastal and urban areas,” she said.

Key appointments:

• Performance and Monitoring Committee: Cr Michael Fowler (chair), Cr Callum Ross (deputy)
• Strategy and Policy Committee: Cr Heather Te Au-Skipworth (chair), Cr Elisha Milmine (deputy)
• Civic and Community Futures Committee: Cr Hana Montaperto-Hendry (chair), Cr Milmine (deputy)
• Infrastructure Delivery Committee: Cr Kevin Watkins (chair), Cr Ross (deputy)