Conversations with a Mayor

Things are about to get swell in Taranaki! This week, Taryn catches up with Craig Williamson, Chair of the Taranaki Regional Council and Chair of Surfing Taranaki, for a kōrero that swaps policy for pure stoke. With the World Surf League Longboard Qualifying Series heading to Fitzroy Beach this King’s Birthday Weekend, they dive into what this means for the region, from the international eyes on our coastline to the buzz it’ll bring to the local community. It’s all about waves, pride, and putting Taranaki on the map in the best possible way. Surf’s up!

What if the real problem with local government isn’t actually the system, but how little we all understand it? When Mayor Max pulled out of this series on local government reform, we went deeper. Enter former New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd with a candid, clear-eyed kōrero on the realities of local democracy, and why so many politicians struggle to deliver on their campaign promises once elected. Part honest reflection, part plea for greater public education, this is a no-nonsense take on the red flags he sees emerging in the proposed reforms. Alongside host Taryn Utiger, the pair unpack the political ideology shaping these changes, the quiet tension between efficiency and true democracy, and why any redesign of representation must be Te Tiriti-centric. Pour your tea and settle in for an honest, unfiltered kōrero about local democracy.

When the future of local government shifts, every district feels it differently. In Part 3 of this four-part special, Taryn sits down with South Taranaki District Mayor Phil Nixon to unpack what the proposed reforms could actually mean for people across Taranaki. They delve into the new joint Chief Executive announcement between NPDC and TRC and discuss how that move landed beyond New Plymouth. This is an episode about how decisions are made, who holds the power, and what representation means for your community.

Phill gets back behind the desk this week to catch up with Neil Volzke, and learn all things Amalgamation. What does it mean, and what’s the future looking like for Taranaki? They also chat about annual plans and events coming up in Stratford.

Local government is changing fast, and Taranaki is right in the middle of it. This week Taryn sits down with Craig Williamson, Chair of the Taranaki Regional Council, for a timely kōrero about leadership, reform, and what it all means for our region. They unpack the big news that Steve Ruru, currently the Regional Council’s Chief Executive, will step in as interim Chief Executive at the New Plymouth District Council, a shared leadership move designed to strengthen collaboration between the councils as major local government reforms approach. From there, the conversation goes deep: what those reforms might mean for councils, how central government mandates and funding pressures are shaping local decision-making, and why the next few years could redefine how local government works in Aotearoa.