Dunedin City Council chief executive Paul Orders has confirmed he will be leaving the city after confirmation of his new role in Cardiff.

News emerged last week Orders was expected to get the Welsh job, after about two years in Dunedin.

He has received plenty of praise for his role in putting in order the finances of a DCC struggling with a multi-million dollar debt.

He says he will be leaving Dunedin with mixed emotions, with the last two years a "singularly positive experience".

But he will have no let-up from local body challenges.

Orders said in a statement from the Cardiff council the Welsh capital's local authority was facing an "unprecedented financial squeeze".