After nearly 16 years working across the United Arab Emirates and surrounding countries, returning to New Zealand is a “blessed homecoming” for Paul Floyd.
The new chief executive of Waitī Waters, the regional water entity serving South Wairarapa, Carterton, Masterton and Tararua, says settling in Greytown has been more than a decade in the making.
“It is so good to be home,” he says.
About 10 years ago, Paul, his wife Clare and daughter Olivia decided to return to New Zealand and make Greytown home. While his family returned first, Paul remained overseas, searching for the right role that would eventually bring him home.
“It took me 10 years to find and get the right job,” he says. “It wasn’t about finding the biggest job. I wanted something worthwhile, a role that had meaning and where I could make a difference.”
Now reunited with his family under one roof, Paul says serving the community where he lives is what attracted him to the role. His son Josh lives in Sweden.
“For me, Waitī Waters is about community, and it’s about getting to serve the community I live in.”
In his first weeks on the job, Paul has been meeting members of the establishment team, council representatives and local iwi. He says building relationships with Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu and understanding the history and significance of the region’s waterways will be an important part of his work.
“This role has a lot of responsibility,” he says. “The decisions we make and how we interact with our water resources have a profound impact on our community.”
While Paul has held senior international leadership positions, including leading Kuwait’s first privately owned gas-fired power and water desalination plant, his career began far from the boardroom.
His first job was as an apprentice fitter and turner.
“I didn’t know the direction I wanted to take, so I started at the beginning,” he says.
Working on the tools and completing further study helped shape his career and gave him an appreciation for people at every level of an organisation.
“I’ve done my time in steel caps and on the shop floor and worked my way up to the boardroom.”
As Waitī Waters prepares to go live next July, Paul says his focus is ensuring the transition is done well and with the community at the centre of every decision.
And after years abroad, he is simply grateful to be home.
“Come up and say hi, have a coffee. I look forward to meeting you.”
