Council retains Far North Holdings directors

Two longstanding directors of Far North Holdings Ltd will continue in their roles to help ensure the smooth completion of a number of significant infrastructure projects.

The terms of current board chair Bill Birnie and former chair Ross Blackman both end on 1 October. Both have also been directors of the Council’s commercial company for eight years. It is council policy that directors normally serve no more than nine years. However, the Council’s Audit, Risk and Finance Committee voted on 25 July to reappoint Ross Blackman for a further year until July 2020, and Bill Birnie for two years and ending July 2021.

Far North District Council CEO, Shaun Clarke, says both directors have displayed passion and commitment for the Far North and helped Far North Holdings Ltd (FNHL) secure significant asset and profit growth over each of the past six years.

“Far North Holdings is one of the best performing council-controlled organisations in the country and has been instrumental in securing significant investment for the district from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund.”

To now start a recruitment process to replace the pair would create uncertainty and instability, particularly when the Council is also going through its triennial elections.

“Over the next two to three years, Far North Holdings will oversee significant tourism infrastructure projects and potentially develop the district’s first business park. Ideally, we would like to retain board members who have a strong understanding of these projects and who can provide continuity, stability and direction.”

FNHL is the commercial trading and asset management arm of Far North District Council. It manages property, maritime and transport assets across the Far North. It has five directors on its board. The others are Sarah Petersen, Kevin Baxter and Murray McCully.