It was not easy telling folk last week of our decision that I will step down as Mayor on October 26th, and on top of that the news that we are moving to Wellington. 

I’ve always been a fairly emotional guy, and I shed quite a few tears as I shared the news, and I think that is a good thing. 

If I didn’t appreciate the role I have had and didn’t still love it, those would have been tears of joy at stepping away, but they weren’t; they were tears of sadness. And that’s how it should be.

Sad as it is for me to have done this, I am also 100% sure it is the right thing to do. 

When I became Mayor (eight years ago on Tuesday), I didn’t make a hard and fast commitment to myself as to how long I would try to stay in the role, but we never really saw me going past three terms and nothing happened along those years to change that view. 

What I never contemplated though was leaving the role a year early, but then, no-one ever contemplated that our Long-Term Plan would be delayed a year, an option many councils took up following the Government making it available due to the massive change in the direction of the Three Waters in February this year.

The law states that a mayor leads the direction of the Long-Term Plan, mahi that has been on-going at Council for a number of months. 

In that time, I have found it difficult, almost false to be leading something that I knew I would not be standing to follow through on. 

To me, it is much better that a new mayor come forward to lead that plan, which must be completed by the end of June, and then put themselves and the plan they have led in front of the voters in October.

By leaving with less than a year to go to the election, a by-election that would cost around $100,000 has been avoided, as the law states that the new Mayor will be chosen from within the ranks of the current council by its members. 

The difficulties I had in coming to this decision have been strongly ameliorated by the sure knowledge that there is fantastic leadership within the current council to carry the community forward.

Linda and I are really looking forward to a new adventure together. 

Going to Wellington will be a homecoming for her but I’ve never lived outside of Otago. 

I have to admit, I am looking forward to some anonymity, although Linda reckons I will enjoy that for about three months and then start to really miss stopping to chat to people down the street. 

She knows her man very well, so she is most likely right in that.

We have been really touched by the texts, messages, emails and cards that have arrived wishing us well as we make this change. 

And that sums up what I will miss the most about this place. 

It won’t be the weather (I’ve decided to consider the Wellington weather as being dramatic, and to embrace the drama), it won’t be the scenery (I’m looking forward to living by the sea for a bit); it will be the people. 

The marvellous people of Central Otago that I have been privileged to live amongst for 30 years, to face challenges with, to get to know and to have a million laughs with. 

That, you, by far and away is what is going to make my tears come when the time comes to step away, not so much from the role but from this place, in three weeks’ time.