Marty Grenfell has resigned as Tauranga City Council chief executive.
In a statement, Mayor Mahé Drysdale said Grenfell's last day in office will be on Friday.
Councillors and staff have been under fire following a review of the January landslide at Mount Maunganui that claimed six lives.
The review found the landslide was preventable, with "one competent consultant after another" identifying the hazard over two decades.
Grenfell earlier maintained he had not offered his resignation because he was confident he was the best person to lead the organisation through what he described as a "difficult period".
Drysdale had also backed his chief executive, saying he was in a "good position" to urgently put in place mitigation and risk management.
The mayor today said he respected Grenfell's decision and thanked him "for his unwavering commitment to public service in our city over the past eight years".
"During this time, Mr Grenfell has helped lead Tauranga City Council through periods of significant growth, change, and challenge. I thank him for his contribution and wish him all the very best for the future," Drysdale said.
The council would appoint an interim chief executive, with a recruitment process starting soon, he said.
-RNZ