Conversations with a Mayor

Think local politics is boring? Think again. Taryn chats with the mayors and council chairs shaping Taranaki and asks them the stuff you actually want to know.

If central government is about to redraw the map of local government, who gets a say in what our future actually looks like? This week Taryn sits down with Taranaki Regional Council chair Craig Williamson to unpack what the Government’s Head Start pathway could actually mean for our region. Craig shares his thoughts on collaboration, representation, and why meaningful public consultation will be critical if any future changes are going to earn trust and genuinely reflect the needs of Taranaki communities. Sit back and get ready for the local government reform chat everyone’s about to start having.

A collapsing highway and a heated council chamber are two pressure points you can’t ignore. This week Taryn sits down with New Plymouth mayor Max Brough to talk about the physical cracks in our roading infrastructure and the tension inside a local democracy committee. They discuss the slip-plagued stretch of State Highway 3 through the Awakino Gorge, and Max’s calls for central Government to step up and fund a northern corridor that functions. Then they turn to the newly established Public Engagement Committee, which has been in the spotlight after a controversial presentation about Māori history was widely criticised as inaccurate and offensive. Taryn asks Max whether there’s any vetting of speakers or topics, what rules apply in the forum, and if any safeguards are being developed to prevent the council committee from descending into a free-for-all of misinformation.

Some conversations start with remembrance, and end with what comes next. This week Taryn sits down with South Taranaki mayor Phil Nixon for a kōrero that moves from the deeply personal to the proudly local. They reflect on Anzac Day in South Taranaki, including Phil’s own family history and the legacy of his father and grandfather. From there, it’s into the work shaping the district, including a $5.9 million upgrade to Pātea’s water supply, ongoing dune restoration, and what these projects mean for the future of the community. They also look at local government reform and the council’s long-term plan. This is an episode that reminds us that the decisions being made today are shaped by the stories that came before them.

From vandalism to big-picture reform, this week’s Stratford kōrero covers it all. Taryn sits down with Stratford mayor Neil Volzke for a kōrero that’s grounded, honest, and unmistakably local. From a recent spate of vandalism to the ongoing shifts in local government reform, they talk about what’s happening right now, and what it means for the community. They chat about the Percy Thomson Gallery, roading funding, and the importance of being resilient in Taranaki - especially in this wild weather!