Andrew Curtis has no interest in "getting back to old Blighty".

The affable English-born chief executive of Irrigation New Zealand (INZ) is happily settled in Canterbury with his family.

Mr Curtis' stint in the country was initially only expected to be temporary — on the way back to the UK from a year in Australia — but morphed into residency.

His role was a good fit for his skill-set which included a varied involvement in the primary sector.