Conversations with a Mayor

This week, Tracey catches up with Stratford District Mayor Neil Volzke for another Conversations with a Mayor — and there’s plenty happening across the district! We hear about the Stratford District Youth Council, which has been championing local youth voices continuously since 2003, and the opportunities it gives rangatahi to build confidence, leadership skills and have a genuine say in their community. They also unpack the proposed local government reforms and what potential changes could mean for Stratford and the wider Taranaki region.
Plus, Neil shares the success of the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, with 79 young people referred for support this year and every one receiving assistance — including 51 moving into paid work experience. And we look ahead at Council’s planning priorities and the decisions shaping the future of the Stratford District.

A blind draw, a beach ramp that’s dominating social media, and a council relationship under pressure 👀🔥 In a candid kōrero, Taryn is joined by New Plymouth District Councillor Sam Bennett, now in his third term, to unpack three issues making headlines in Taranaki. First up, they look at the blind draw for councillors to attend the LGNZ conference. Sam asks why councillors weren’t selected on merit and why ratepayer money is being spent sending a councillor who previously voted to withdraw the district’s LGNZ membership. Taryn then questions Sam’s working relationship with Mayor Max Brough and the tensions that have emerged between the two, before the focus shifts to the accessibility ramp down to Fitzroy Beach. Is the newly built ramp fit for purpose, or are the concerns about the quality of the construction valid? Will the defects be rectified? 🌊🏗️👀 Join us for three topics, plenty of sparks and one very candid kōrero about life inside New Plymouth District Council 🔥

A new CEO is heading into the hot seat at New Plymouth District Council 👀🏛️💥 This week, Taryn catches up with New Plymouth Mayor Max Brough to learn more about Kelvin Wright, the council’s newly announced Chief Executive. They talk about why Kelvin was selected, what he brings to the role, and what mahi he will be doing in the first few months on the job. Then it’s into rates capping, funding for the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre, and whether putting councils under tighter financial pressure could actually spark a little good old-fashioned Kiwi ingenuity💡Join us for a lively kōrero about leadership, money, creativity and what comes next for New Plymouth.

From wrestling banter to a very serious question about who’s going to pay for thousands of ageing rural bridges, this one covers a bit of ground 🤼‍♂️🌉 This week, Taryn catches up with South Taranaki District Mayor Phil Nixon for a chat about the weather, the upcoming Te Hāwera Community Board by-election, and new funding for the Resource Recovery Centre. Then the conversation gets onto the bridges. With rural bridges across Aotearoa reaching the end of their working lives, Taryn asks Phil whether rural ratepayers are carrying a disproportionate share of the cost of ageing infrastructure, and what a fairer way forward might look like. Plus, there’s a bit of wrestling chat along the way, as Phil shares his recent experience in the wrestling ring 🤼‍♂️

What do you get when rural bridges around Aotearoa start reaching the end of their lives? A very big bill, and a very big question about who’s paying it 🌉 This week, Taryn catches up with Stratford District Mayor Neil Volzke for a wide-ranging kōrero, starting with the people making a difference in the community at Stratford’s Citizen Awards 🏆 They chat about the announcement of a new data centre for Stratford 💻, before getting into the big issue of the week: rural bridges. With bridges across Aotearoa ageing out, what happens when they need replacing, and who foots the bill? Then, Neil brings us up to speed on the latest with local government reform.