So much of my job revolves around relationships; relationships with people locally, relationships with other elected members, with staff and more broadly the relationship with other mayors, and beyond that central government politicians.

Over the time I’ve been mayor, and the past three years in particular, the relationships forged with other mayors have been utterly crucial.  

There are 66 of us in the country (half the number of MPs), filling a role that has no job description, no boss, no set hours and no guarantee of survival. Closeness with other mayors is at times crucial to coping, especially when things go pear-shaped. 

During the first Covid lockdown, I organised Friday night “stubbie zooms” where the Otago mayors would get together and have a drink and a chat and discuss how our communities were going, what was working, what wasn’t, etc. Lots of good outcomes came from those meetings, not the least of which was the forging of some great friendships.

 How everything has changed in the space of a week.  

Normally New Zealand loses around a third of its incumbent mayors every election, due to standing down or being stood down by the public. This time, we have lost just under half. In Otago and Southland, five out of eight mayors are new to the role and I’m the third longest serving after just two terms. 

That is a huge amount of change at a time of uncertainty like we are facing.

On the flip side, I am really looking forward to getting to know the new group. I managed to have lunch with Glyn Lewers (the new Queenstown Lakes mayor) this week and I think we will work well together. His predecessor Jim Boult was a great friend to me and Central Otago, having the sense and vision to see that what was good for my district was good for his and vice-versa. Strong links between CODC and QLDC are crucial moving forward and I’m sure that will remain with Glyn at the helm.

 I’ve met the new mayor of our neighbour Southland District, Rob Scott, a couple of times and look forward to getting to know him better. He replaces Gary Tong, a good bugger who became a good friend. Nobby Clark, the new Invercargill mayor, has been heavily involved at a national level in his time as deputy mayor over the past few years so we know each other well, and Jules Radich in Dunedin is also someone I have met on a few occasions and I look forward to getting to know better. He replaces Aaron Hawkins, a bloke I wasn’t sure I would get on well with when he first became mayor, but who soon impressed with his vision, hard work ethic, high intelligence and incredibly dry wit. I am really going to miss working with Aaron.

And then there is Gore. Tracy Hicks became a friend and mentor to me in my six years, with an extremely calm and considered manner that balanced well the impetuosity a Cadogan gene-pool can bring. I will miss Tracy a lot, but how very exciting to have 23-year-old Ben Bell to work with moving forward. Like many, I had no idea who Ben was when he stood but learnt more about him as time went on. He has an impressive background for one so young and will bring a fresh voice and perspective to the southern mayoral fraternity.