Described by husband Tony as his "secret weapon" during his successful campaign for the Central Otago mayoralty more than a year ago, the mayoress is best described as a "doer" not a "watcher.""We come as a package deal," Mr Lepper said during the campaign, and his 55-year-old wife has been attending as many official functions as she can fit in around her full-time work as manager of Central Otago REAP (Rural Education Activities Programme).
The couple live on a lifestyle block at Earnscleugh and have been married for 31 years. They have two children. Son Blake (24) is a lawyer working for Russell McVeagh in Auckland, while their daughter Brie (21) is studying for a paramedical degree.
Mrs Lepper says, although she is "more of the personality to take a back seat", she wholeheartedly supported her husband's bid for the mayoralty.
"He was keen and he's been in local body politics for well over 20 years, so it's always been part of our lives."
She has always worked full time, with Mr Lepper "being there to get the kids off the bus when they were younger", and wondered what impact his new role would have on their home life.
"I was worried I was going to lose my cook and my supermarket shopper," she jokes.
"It's all good, though. He still manages to cook the evening meal three times a week and [the supermarket] is a great place for him to meet his constituents."
Going to official functions is a real privilege, she says.
"Often I'm there in a joint role anyway, representing REAP or as a Central Lakes [Trust] trustee, but it's a privilege to be part of those events."
Attending citizenship ceremonies has been one of the highlights of her role as mayoress so far.
"Getting to meet the new citizens and hearing their stories about where they came from and what led them to settle here.
Their stories are pretty amazing, so citizenship ceremonies are really special events."
According to Mr Lepper, his wife is responsible for "enticing" him to this part of the country.
She is a Paulin, and three generations of her family have been stonefruit growers in Central Otago. He hails from Hawkes Bay and the couple met at teachers' college and spent three years travelling overseas before settling in Central Otago.
They live within a kilometre of her parents and two of her brothers.
She spent more than 20 years teaching, mostly at Dunstan High School, finishing her stint as assistant principal.
She was employed as the community education facilitator at REAP in October 1997 and became the manager the following year.
"It's a great job, always changing, and I'm lucky to be surrounded by people passionate about what they do, which really makes a difference."
Keeping fit is important for both of them and the couple's regular exercise includes bike rides and swimming. They have competed in all 15 Goldrush multisport events and she says exercise doubles as their "catch-up" time.
An annual "adventure" is also on the calendar. Last year's adventure was a 1600km bike ride in England from Lands End to John o'Groats.
A climb up the unnamed Central Otago mountain peak which was the subject of much controversy in 2011 is on the agenda for 2012. Together with Gordon Stewart, the Leppers tried to climb the peak, between the Hector Mountains and the Remarkables, in winter, but abandoned the ascent for safety reasons. They plan to return in February for a second go.
