South Wairarapa District Council is delighted to announce the appointment of Clare Barton as General Manager of Planning and Regulatory Services, who starts on Monday 23 March.

Clare will bring extensive experience to the role, including work in Local and Central Government as well as in other consultancy roles. Her background gives her an understanding of both the regulatory framework and the impact of approach.  

To take up her new role at the Council, Clare is leaving the Ministry for the Environment (MOE) where she worked as General Manager of Science and Evidence. This role included work on environmental limits, investment in data and evidence work streams and input to the planning system reform, among other work. Prior to her role at the MOE, Clare worked at Nelson City Council for over eight years as the General Manager of Environmental Management, looking after policy, resource consents and building teams, city development, environmental health (including liquor licensing, compliance and enforcement), science and environmental implementation programmes.  

“We are excited to have Clare join our team and her experience in the RMA reform area will be a great help as we navigate the Government’s proposed changes,” says Council Chief Executive Officer Janice Smith.

Clare lives in Greytown and enjoys the community in South Wairarapa.

Above: Clare Barton takes up the role of General Manager of Planning and Regulatory Services on Monday 23 March 2026.