Invercargill is set to welcome Rex Capil as its new Group Manager Community Spaces and Places from Monday.

Capil will join Invercargill City Council from Gore District Council where he served as both Deputy Chief Executive and General Manager Community Lifestyle Services.

He has extensive local government experience from across New Zealand and has also worked at Southland District Council and Venture Southland, before it became Great South.

Council Chief Executive Michael Day said he was pleased to welcome Capil to the team and looked forward to utilising his extensive skills in the day-to-day running of Council.

“I, and the other members of the Executive Leadership Team, are immensely impressed with Rex’s background. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he’s capable of here in Invercargill.

“One of Rex’s main areas that he will be focussing on is the development of Project 1225, the museum rebuild project. It’s Council’s biggest tasks but I have no doubt he is the best person for the job.”

Capil said he was very much looking forward to getting started in Invercargill.

“It’s a Council that has so many exciting opportunities ahead, and from my perspective, it provides scale, resources and a sense of purpose, which means we can make a difference working alongside the community we serve now and for future generations.

“This has a real feel of coming home (tūrangawaewae) and being involved in community spaces and places that I have had an interest in for my entire life, being born and bred here.”

Capil was looking forward to reigniting old relationships, both internally and externally, and developing new relationships.

“Local government is all about people and I am looking forward to getting alongside the wide range of stakeholders who have ‘skin in the game’ to make our city a place people are proud of. I appreciate there are competing demands within Council, so I am looking forward to understanding the environment I am walking into first, to ensure I can contribute reasonably, objectively and equitably.”

Once settled into the role, Capil said one of the main areas he would like to focus on is making sure the community understands and appreciates there were many cogs in the wheel of local government.

“My focus is on our people and wrapping around support, structures, resources, and tools so they are well-supported and can deliver the best possible outcomes for the future of our city. I will be looking to provide stability, to ensure delivery and accountability, and to support any organisations biggest asset – our people.”

The Group Manager Community Spaces and Places position fills the role left vacant by Steve Gibling in August, and manages Council’s parks, pool, venues, library and museum services.