Peter Kelly remembers it was a bitterly cold day in Waiouru that later opened the door to his current life.
The Central Otago District Council chief executive took a metaphorical approach when asked to talk about his key to success.
His "key" is a framed photo of him and his wife, Kate, at the New Zealand Army national marae at the Waiouru Military Base.
The photo was taken in 2015, immediately before he was welcomed on to the marae to be made Chief of the Army.
"It was a very cold day in September," he recalled. "Everybody was rugged up."
To Mr Kelly, it is important the photo reflects his Māori heritage.
The korowai he is wearing was made by his iwi, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, and it usually resides in Te Papa.
"What I’m looking at, behind the photographer, is two bus-loads of uncles and aunties and cousins [and] my father and brothers and sisters from our iwi, who came up to be a part of that day."
The photograph represents a proud moment for Mr Kelly in his first career, which unlocked a second career in local government.
"Leadership — at its heart — is about relationships.
"The skills and values and attributes you want in soldiers across the New Zealand army are equally applicable to the personal attributes and values that you would like to have in people that work in local government and council."
He saw both organisations as values-based services, focusing on best outcomes for their communities.
A welcome change from the Army is hearing his first name in the workplace, rather than "Sir".
He said the photo also represented how his family have supported him through his life and career.
Mr Kelly met his wife in high school and "many years later, [she is] still by my side".
