On 10th October 2025, the day before the 2025 Local Government Elections, many people in New Plymouth were extremely surprised to find the sitting Mayor of New Plymouth at the time, Neil Holdom, had been appointed as the Interim CEO of the new Water Services Council Controlled organisation (WSCCO).

The NP Ratepayers Alliance has investigated how the Water Services Company was set up and how the recruitment process was handled, when one of the major decision makers of this process was in fact the Mayor incumbent in 2025, Neil Holdom.

Between a timeline we have put together, the summary of the information we received from OIA’s with a mish mash of disconnected information and redacted e-mails, a lot of unanswered questions by the Local Water Done Well Project Manager, Mayor Neil Holdom, and NPDC CEO Gareth Green (as very little was written down in the project and recruitment decision making process) – we think what is of the biggest concern is the deliberate lack of openness and transparency surrounding the WSCCO establishment.

It was almost like if nothing was recorded or written down no one could prove whether things were done as they should be. No one could identify any one person who did the wrong thing.

Neil Holdom was the sitting Mayor through the entire NPDC Local Water Done Well and WSCCO Establishment process. He set agendas for meetings and was involved with decisions and content that would be presented to Councillors. He agreed no conflict of interest register was required, as he didn’t make sure one was set up himself. He sent few e-mails about any decisions.

From 1st September when his application was received for the Interim CEO role Holdom made no public mention he had sought the position.

·         Neil Holdom actively hid what he was doing from the public.

·         He is currently working in a position as an Interim CEO of the WSCCO.

·         A person to fill the role of a Permanent CEO will be sought for 1 July 2026.

If you want to know more about our investigation you can read the full story on our website News page, here:

https://www.npratepayers.nz/blog/2246972

The NP Ratepayers Alliance is running a petition to present to the elected officials at the NPDC.

We are asking members of the public who are concerned about the:

·         Lack of transparency,

·         Lack of openness, and

·         Lack of any conflicts of interest register,

throughout the WSCCO set up and recruitment process in 2025, whether Neil Holdom is a suitable candidate to be considered for the permanent CEO position with the WSCCO.

Join Us:

By signing this petition, you are telling the NPDC you do not support Neil Holdom being appointed as the Permanent CEO of the New Plymouth Water Services Council Controlled Organisation.

If the public demonstrates they do not support Neil Holdom being placed in a Permanent position with the WSCCO, The New Plymouth District Ratepayers Alliance will present this finding to the elected officials at the NPDC.