Another senior staff member resigns from Gore District Council

Tuesday, 10 October 2023

Rex Capil has resigned as the Gore District Council’s general manager of community lifestyle services. (File photo)

The Gore District Council has received another high-profile resignation, just as it begins the hunt for a new chief executive.

The general manager of community lifestyle services, Rex Capil, has tendered his resignation, just over a month after chief executive Stephen Parry announced he was leaving after 22 years of service.

The council will consider the appointment of an interim chief executive at its meeting on Tuesday afternoon. That discussion will be held in committee.

In a statement, a spokesperson said the council was committed to ensuring a smooth transition to a new chief executive, and having the right interim chief executive was critical to achieving this.

In the same statement, Capil said he was leaving the council to take up another role but did not say what it was. His last day at the council will be November 24.

In his resignation letter, Capil thanked Parry for his support.

Stephen Parry resigned as chief executive and finishes at the Gore council at the end of October. (File photo)

“I came to the council to work with you, and I have enjoyed the chance to do that. Thanks for the opportunities and professional learnings along the way,’’ he wrote.

“The senior leadership team and staff are fantastic, and again I have valued the opportunity to be part of a very special staff at the council.

“A fantastic team and a fantastic work environment from an operational perspective.’’

Capil was acting chief executive when Parry took extended leave in May, and he had been largely expected to take up the interim role again until a new chief executive was appointed.

Former Gore councillor Bret Highsted tendered his resignation in April. (File photo)

Capil is a Taituarā Community Wellbeing working group member and is also on the board of directors for the WBSC Oceania Vice President and WBSC Softball Division.

He was the acting chief executive at the Thames-Coromandel District Council for five months in 2022 before moving to Gore. Before that, he was the Southland District Council’s group manager of community and futures from 2015 to 2021.

Capil and Parry’s resignations follow those of former councillor Bret Highsted in April.

Highsted was one of the most experienced councillors around the council table, having served five terms.

In a letter to deputy mayor Keith Hovell, Highsted apologised for commenting to an individual outside of the council before an extraordinary meeting that was held in committee.