How a six week council job turned into 30 years

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Denise Sutherland filled in at the Hurunui District Council for six weeks in 1993 while a staff member was on a honeymoon.

Thirty years on, and she is still working at the council.

Sutherland was one of several long serving staff recognised by mayor Marie Black on Tuesday.

"It is a great place to work and the team I am in now is wonderful and they are so supportive."

Sutherland filled in for the building department for six weeks, before being offered a permanent contract.

Since then she has served under five mayors and four chief executives and said there has been plenty of change.

"There has been building changes, staff changes, policy changes and different ways of doing things."

The biggest change has been technology, which has been incremental over time, she said.

She has worked between the building and finance teams and more recently as a rates officer.

Black thanked 10 staff members who served between 15 and 30 years at the council.

She said the milestones did not just reflect years of service.

"You don’t stay in a business for 20 or 30 years without being loyal and dedicated."

Governance advisor Maree Hare has been with the council for 20 years, the same period of time water supervisor Bob Genet has been out "digging holes and fixing pipes".

Information systems manager Scott Linton has been with the council for 15 years, in a role which has seen him manage the IT, cyber security and information management for the Hurunui and Kaikōura councils and Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa.

His team also managed the MacKenzie District Council’s IT for several years.

"When we pool our money together we can afford more," Linton said.

"We run them as three independent entities, but it is essentially the same systems."

Other staff recognised included: Rose Luff (25 years), JJ Gudopp (20 years), Josie Hemmings (20 years), Jason Beck (15 years), Alistair Wilson (15 years) and Dianne Morrison (15 years).

Photo: Hurunui ,ayor Marie Black, centre, catches up with some of the council’s long serving staff, including Scott Linton, left, Bob Genet, Maree Hare and Denise Sutherland.

■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.