Timaru District Council CEO on leave after brain bleed at work

Friday, 3 October 2025

Timaru District Council chief executive Nigel Trainor is on leave after suffering a brain bleed while at work last week.

Mayor Nigel Bowen said Trainor suffered the brain bleed last Friday and was admitted to Ashburton Hospital where he stayed for two nights.

“He’s come out of hospital on Sunday … he’s doing really well and is expected to make a full recovery,” Bowen said.

“I was just talking to him … and he was still making chief executive jokes, so he’s in full spirits.”

He said Trainor had been talking to a staff member at the time of the medical incident and it was fortunate that person had recognised his speech changed and got help immediately.

“The chief executive’s popular amongst staff, and him and his family have had a lot of kind remarks made from staff … they’re all just wishing him a full recovery.”

Bowen said Trainor had the council’s full support to take the time he needed to make a full recovery.

“He’s a hard one to keep down, but we are trying to have him stay off work for at least four weeks.”

In his absence, the council’s assets and infrastructure general manager, Andrew Dixon, had been appointed acting chief executive until the election but that could change to another person post-election, Bowen said.

The council had recently introduced a new staffing structure following a major restructure, and Bowen said that was still bedding in.

“We’re in a pretty good place, operational wise. There’s still things that need to be ironed out, but that’s part of ongoing change (such as the parks team coming in house).”