New Cabinet Minister appoints own CEO

Cabinet Minister Hon William (Smiley) Heather Jnr has appointed his own CEO, Tere Taio to run his ministerial support office for him in the building previously occupied by former Minister Ngamau Munokoa in Nikao next to the Golf Club.
Taio told the Herald the Minister had adopted an ‘open door policy’ and was keen to get things moving in his portfolio of Planning and Infrastructure (MOIP). Top priority will be doing something about water supplies and completing the replacement of the ring mains (water pipes, a job that is 40 years overdue). The old ring mains are made of asbestos which not only pose a potential danger to health but are leaking badly leading to water wastage.
Taio has a background in the private sector with his pearl shop and building experience and has a strong focus on community projects from his involvement in various Parent-Teacher-Associations beginning from the renovation of the Blackrock Preschool Centre right next door in Nikao. Other projects were raising funds to build the hall at Avatea School and then involvement at Tereora College. He plans to step down so that other people have the freedom to step up to the mark and put in their own ideas.
Now that he is CEO to the Minister, Taio will devote his time to helping the Minister to achieve all their goals in the various Ministries under his umbrella which also includes being Minister of the House of Ariki and of the House of Parliament.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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