Dr Nic Peet has been named as the new Chief Executive of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, succeeding Pieri Munro, who has been serving as an interim CEO since February. According to Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby, Dr Peet is the best choice for the role due to his extensive environmental experience. Dr Peet is presently the Group Manager of Strategy, Regulation, and Science at Horizons Regional Council, and has also worked with the New Zealand Department of Conservation and BirdLife International in the UK. His term will begin in early to mid-July.
Ormsby highlighted Dr Peet’s commitment to environmental issues and his strong connections across the motu, and said she believed his presence would benefit the Council’s work. Dr Peet himself expressed excitement about joining the Regional Council team, citing the importance of environmental conservation to the Hawkes Bay region, and the opportunity to work with a dedicated and well-respected team. During his time at Horizons Regional Council, Dr Peet led the organization’s freshwater reform and climate change initiatives, and his work involved oversight of a regional action plan and committee with joint iwi and governance membership. Dr Peet earned his PhD in Ecology from the University of East Anglia in the UK.
