The Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s new chief executive says some decisions he makes may not be popular, but they will be necessary.
Matt Potton started his role on May 11, replacing former chief executive John Holyoake, who resigned in March last year. Mariam Taris, who was the council’s chief executive from 2014 to 2021, held the position in the interim.
Potton told Local Democracy Reporting his focus was on “doing the basics well” and delivering consistent, reliable services that the community could trust.
“It’s making sure the organisation remembers what our purpose is and who we’re there for,” Potton said.
“Providing value for money is more important than ever. We have a responsibility to be efficient with ratepayer money, recognising the real cost-of-living pressures many are facing, while also delivering the infrastructure and services our communities rely on.”
Potton started at the council in 2009 as a finance manager and was its chief financial officer from 2014 to 2017. He left the council to work in the commercial sector, but returned last year as the council’s corporate services general manager.
The CEO role was one Potton said he had been interested in for a long time.
“I liked the idea of working with the community and the organisation. It was an opportunity to lead it through some challenging times.”
Matt Potton brings a background in finance and corporate services to his new role leading the Western Bay of Plenty District Council. Photo / Kelly O'Hara
He returned to local government for the “diversity”, saying the work was constantly evolving and changing, making it “exciting”.
“It never gets stale; you never get bored.”
Potton spoke about the importance of doing the small things well, as those were the things people saw and were bothered by.
“If you’ve got a tatty playground … that upsets the community because they want to use it.
“Their first reaction is often, ‘That’s what my rates are paying for. Why can’t we use it? If you’re not doing that well, what else does it mean you’re not doing well?’ That’s when perception becomes people’s reality.”
He said doing the basics well demonstrated value.
Potton said compromises on costs were necessary and “nice-to-haves might become less achievable”.
Matt Potton says small issues, like poorly maintained public spaces, can shape public perception. Photo / Kelly O'Hara
When asked how he planned to approach unpredictable issues such as the recent weather events, he said “knee-jerk reactions” should be avoided and issues should be looked at objectively.
“That might not be the most popular course of action, but it’s the right thing for the community, health and safety, and financially.”
He said the best approach to unpredictable issues was to find a bit of calmness and link it back to something that has happened in the past to learn from.
From Europe to the Bay
Potton was born and raised in Gibraltar, a tiny British territory in southern Europe, and moved to New Zealand in 1988 after visiting for a holiday, meeting his Katikati wife Kylie and never leaving.
The couple lived in the Athenree/Waihī Beach area for two years before moving to Auckland. But four years later, they moved to Brookfield to raise their children, Heath and Willow, now 20 and 22.
Potton has worked in a wide variety of industries, including commercial construction, professional services, motorcycles and diving.
The Pottons were inspired to get into childcare when their children were young and set up two preschools: Little Woods in Welcome Bay and Fern Garden in Ōtūmoetai.
Potton said his varied experience taught him the importance of communication.
“I’m a big believer in teamwork.”
He said he had an open door and liked to discuss solutions to ensure decisions were well thought through.
He said he aimed to be an approachable, informed, reliable, transparent and stable influence.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Ayla Yeoman is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in communications, politics and international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.