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PODCAST

Conversations with a Mayor

Think local politics is boring? Think again. Every Thursday, Taryn Utiger sits down with mayors, council chairs and political guests to dig into what’s really going on. She asks questions about rates, local issues, hot topics, and the future of our towns, and then flips into some fun stuff like hidden gems and who secretly makes the best coffee in the region. It’s smart, unfiltered kōrero with the people running your patch: Max Brough, Craig Williamson, Neil Volzke, and Phil Nixon, served up with

government & organizations

All Episodes

0:25:32

Phil Nixon: Local Government Reform on Hold, Lew...

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/09/30

Just when local government reform was gathering pace, Central Government has suddenly hit pause ⏸️🏛️ Taryn catches up with South Taranaki District Mayor Phil Nixon to get his honest thoughts on the unexpected pause to reform process, and find out what could happen next. They also chat about the new lookout at the Pātea Saltmarsh, and and the completion of Stage 2 of the Waverley Town Belt 🌳✨🌿Plus, there’s a look at the South Taranaki Community Awards, the Hāwera Community Board by-election, and

en-nz

0:24:47

Niel Volzke: Enabling The Youth And More

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/09/23

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

en-nz

0:32:50

Sam Bennett: Blind Draws, Beach Ramps & Council...

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/09/16

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

en-nz

0:29:54

Max Brough: New CEO, New Ideas & the Rates Cap 💰🏛️

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/09/02

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

en-nz

0:22:29

Phil Nixon: Wrestling, Weather & Wobbly Bridges

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/08/26

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

en-nz

0:30:28

Neil Volzke: Bridges, Bytes & Big Decisions

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/08/19

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

en-nz

0:30:22

Craig Williamson: Surf Aid & Local Government Reform

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/08/12

From the surf to the future of local government, there’s plenty to talk about in Taranaki! This week, Taryn catches up with Craig Williamson, Chair of the Taranaki Regional Council, starting with a look at what’s happening in the surf world and the latest from Surf Aid before turning to the much bigger question of local government reform. They unpack Craig’s recent opinion piece in The Post and his argument that the Taranaki Regional Council deserves a seat at the table when decisions are being made

en-nz

0:20:6

Max Brough: Local Government Reform & the...

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/08/05

Local government reform is moving fast, and the questions are getting bigger. This week, Taryn catches up with New Plymouth District Mayor Max Brough to unpack the latest developments in the future of local government across Taranaki. They dive into the new million-dollar Pathfinder report being led by the New Plymouth District Council and how he plans to get that proposal seen by Central Government. Taryn also asks Max what he thinks about South Taranaki and Stratford choosing to forge ahead

en-nz

0:26:3

Phil Nixon: South Taranaki’s Midwinter Update

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/07/29

While winter has Taranaki wrapped in frost, there's no sign of things slowing down in South Taranaki! This week, Taryn catches up with South Taranaki District Mayor Phil Nixon for a lively kōrero that spans everything from icy paddocks to the future of the district. They chat about how farmers are getting through the cold snap, the South Taranaki Citizen Awards, the upcoming Te Hāwera Community Board by-election, and also take a whistle-stop tour of the exciting projects taking shape across Pātea,

en-nz

0:29:1

Neil Volzke: Reform, Reactions & Regional Change

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/07/22

Big decisions are on the table, and Stratford isn't staying quiet. This week, Taryn catches up with Stratford District Mayor Neil Volzke to unpack the latest on local government reform and where Stratford sits as the region weighs up its future. They discuss the passionate public forum held in Stratford recently, where speakers voiced opposition to a unitary council and one former mayor even suggested that central government was using bullying tactics to drive change. The conversation also turns to

en-nz

0:29:19

Craig Williamson:

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/07/15

The future of local government in Taranaki is taking shape — but the details matter. This week, Taryn catches up with Craig Williamson, Chair of the Taranaki Regional Council, for the latest update on local government reform and where the conversation is heading. They unpack the possibility of a two-unitary council model and why it may not be as simple as drawing a line on a map. Craig talks about the practical challenges that come with reshaping how our region is governed, including river

en-nz

0:19:41

Max Brough: Rates, Reform & Rumours

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/07/08

Rates are rising, reforms are gathering pace, and rumours are swirling around the the next mayoralty. This week on Conversations With a Mayor, Taryn sits down with New Plymouth District Mayor Max Brough to unpack this year’s rates rise, the council’s Annual Plan, and the local government reforms that could reshape councils across Aotearoa. Plus, hear a special segment from Max’s interview on ART FM’s The HeARTy Breakfast, where he responds to the question that’s been circulating around town: will he

en-nz

0:28:8

EJ Barrett: Insights of a First-Term Councillor

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/07/01

This week, we're spilling the tea on what it's actually like to be a first-term councillor. Eight months after being elected to New Plymouth District Council, EJ Barrett joins Taryn for an honest, behind-the-scenes chat. EJ opens up about navigating the personalities around the council table, the privilege and pressure of advocating for disabled people and others whose voices are too often overlooked, and why local democracy matters far more than most of us realise. Honest, funny, and refreshingly

en-nz

0:26:46

Phil Nixon: Sequins & Surveys

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/06/24

A mayor, a musical, and a long-term plan walk into a podcast... From sequins and spotlights to surveys and strategy, this week’s episode covers a little bit of everything! Taryn catches up with the Mayor of South Taranaki, Phil Nixon, who is fresh from a surprise cameo appearance in Sister Act in Hāwera. They chat about the buzz surrounding the hit musical, before turning their attention to council business. There’s the newly adopted Long Term Plan, the impending local government reform, the

en-nz

0:29:24

Neil Volzke: Local Government Reform

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/06/17

One council for Taranaki? Or two? Or perhaps something completely different? It's a question that could shape Taranaki for decades, and this week Taryn Utiger sits down with Stratford mayor Neil Volzke to break it all down. The pair dive into local government reform and the newly launched community surveys. They unpack the options Stratford has on the table, and explore what a single unitary council, or a two-council model, could actually mean for the people who live in Taranaki. They also talk

en-nz

0:22:8

Max Brough

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/06/03

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.

en-nz

0:29:30

Phil Nixon: Local Government Reform

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/05/28

Big changes are being talked about in local government, but what could reform actually mean for communities like South Taranaki? This week Taryn Utiger sits down with South Taranaki mayor Phil Nixon to unpack the Government’s push to reshape local government, how the region’s councils may work more closely together, and why community consultation will be crucial. The pair also talk about the reopening of the Kaponga Library, the demolition of the Manaia Town Hall and Sports Complex, and the vision

en-nz

0:30:5

Neil Volzke

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/05/20

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.

en-nz

0:29:46

Craig Williamson: Simplifying Local Government

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/05/13

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

en-nz

0:29:31

Max Brough: Slips & Scrutiny

Conversations with a Mayor ·

2026/05/06

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

en-nz

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