Change in Hamilton

Radio NZ reports:

Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, who was first elected in 2019, has announced she won’t be running for re-election later this year.

In a post on Facebook, Southgate said it was time for change and that she wanted to reprioritise her time.

“It is now time to make way for younger, emerging leaders and to spend more time with my friends and family.

“I will not be standing for re-election later this year.”

Mayors don’t last long in Hamilton. Since 1998 there have been seven Mayors. Five did only one terms, and two did two terms.

With a 19.9% rates increase, I suspect the public will be looking for leadership that is more fiscally restrained!