New Chief Executive appointed for New Plymouth District Council

Kelvin Wright, the current Chief Executive of regional development agency Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, has been announced as the new Chief Executive of New Plymouth District Council.

New Plymouth District Mayor Max Brough said the appointment followed a comprehensive recruitment process and attracted a strong field of candidates from across New Zealand.

“We were looking for an outstanding leader who shares our commitment to delivering excellent services, leading a complex organisation and working closely with our community.

“Kelvin brings extensive leadership experience, a strong track record of delivering results and a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our district.” 

Mayor Max said the appointment comes at an important time for the district and wider local government sector.

“We have significant work underway, including infrastructure investment, responding to government reform, supporting economic development as well as ensuring we continue to deliver value for our communities – we believe Kelvin is the right person to guide the organisation and help deliver on our vision.”

Wright said he was excited by the opportunity to be re-joining New Plymouth District Council.

“Over the past four years, we’ve transformed how Venture Taranaki delivers economic development, with that work recognised nationally for innovation and excellence. I want to bring that same integrated and collaborative approach to Council.

He said Councillors work with the community to decide what services it wants and can afford and his role is to deliver those services in a way that maximises value for every dollar, while keeping the organisation stable and resilient.

“With rising costs and an economy under pressure, we can’t simply rate our way out of the challenge, nor can we cut our way out of it. We need to work differently — collaborating with partners and business to add value to the base services and grow the district’s prosperity.

“I’m under no illusion about the scale of the challenge or that transformation takes time. That’s what makes this role exciting, it’s a time when local government needs to be delivered differently.

My first 100 days will be about listening, gathering evidence and understanding the organisation, not arriving with a pre-determined plan. I’ll engage with staff, elected members, iwi, community and business, and use that insight to shape a plan for the future alongside the Long-Term Plan,” says Wright.

He will start in the role on 5 October 2026. 

Mayor Max thanked Interim Chief Executive Steve Ruru for his leadership during the transition period.

“Steve has provided stability and strong leadership during a period of change, and his contribution has been greatly appreciated by both elected members and staff.”

With Wright departing the regional development agency next month, Stacey Hitchcock, Deputy Chief Executive/General Manager Strategy and Investment at Venture Taranaki will become the Interim Chief Executive.

“While we’re of course sad to see Kelvin go, he won’t be far away,” said Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki Chair Grant McQuoid.

“As Venture Taranaki’s core shareholder, NPDC’s appointment of Kelvin provides valuable continuity for the region at a time when strong partnerships are critical to supporting a diversified economy and ensuring the right activity is prioritised over the next decade.”

McQuoid said the change in leadership will have minimal disruption to the agency’s operations.

“Venture Taranaki has a clear strategic direction, established programmes and experienced teams in place across its key areas of focus, including tourism and destination development, industrial growth through the Taranaki Alliance, food and fibre diversification through Branching Out, business and enterprise support, investment and industry attraction, and energy sector development. These areas of work will continue to progress, with the existing team maintaining momentum and delivering against agreed priorities.”

Caption: New Plymouth District Mayor Max Brough with NPDC’s new chief executive Kelvin Wright.

About Kelvin Wright

• Kelvin Wright is the current Chief Executive of Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, having joined the regional development agency in May 2022, after his role as Deputy Chief Executive at New Plymouth District Council (NPDC).
• Prior to his role as NPDC’s Deputy Chief Executive, Kelvin was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for NPDC from 2017 to 2020.
• Before joining local government, he held roles as the General Manager of Operations for Energyworks Ltd. in New Plymouth and the Chief Executive Officer for Allied Industrial Engineering in the Bay of Plenty.
• Kelvin is currently on the board of Economic Development New Zealand (EDNZ) as well as Basketball Taranaki. 
• He grew up in Mosgiel, Dunedin where his career started as a Toolmaker and Mechanical Design Engineer for Fisher and Paykel, and then established his own mechanical design consultancy business for New Zealand-wide manufacturers and engineering providers.
• After gaining his commercial pilots license and instructor ratings, he became the chief pilot/flying instructor for Air Charter Otago.
• Kelvin has largely lived in Taranaki since 2012 with his wife and two children.