After nearly three terms as Central Otago Mayor, Tim Cadogan this week reflected on his role and the changes he had seen in nearly 30 years living in the region.
On Monday, Mr Cadogan announced his intention to resign from office on October 26 and move to Wellington.
He arrived nearly 30 years ago as a single parent with two toddlers. He leaves having, he believes, led the council in the hardest decision it would ever have to make.
The council’s decision last week to spread funding for all council services, except community boards grants, across the whole region would set the course for the rough water ahead, he said.
"I think it will increasingly stand out as the biggest accomplishment because it’s setting the bones, the structure of the council right for the future and the waters are really, really choppy ahead. They have been for a long time ... right up until the day I didn’t know which way I was going to vote, but we had to ask that hard question."
However, there was one thing he had not achieved.
"My biggest sense of failure lies in the affordable housing space. It was something I came in on in 2016, wanting to do something about it. And I haven’t achieved what I wanted there."
When he first became mayor there were 18,000 people living in Central Otago. Today there are 26,700.
Central Otago’s popularity, current housing stock, cost of building due to distance and lower-than-average income made things "really, really, tough".
His date of departure was carefully considered. By leaving within a year of the next local body elections he avoided a $100,000 by-election.
Instead, at the next scheduled council meeting, on October 30, councillors would decide who would lead them through next year’s long-term process.
Mr Cadogan came to the mayoralty without any council experience. He had been on the Vincent Community Board then a stint on the Central Lakes Trust before standing as mayor in 2016.
"I really didn’t anticipate how huge a step it was from community board straight into mayordom ... I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody."
The support of people around him was crucial, he said.
"[I was] so very, very blessed to have asked Neil [Gillespie] to be my deputy and he’s been an absolute tower of strength."
Living in Wellington would be a huge change.
His wife, Linda, and their children had borne the weight of his role even though they were not in the public eye, he said.
The skill set he had acquired as mayor meant Wellington was always on the cards for his next life stage.
"We felt it would be good to get away, just have a clean break for a while. Central will always be home."
More time with his family was a huge drawcard for change.
"Linda has been a tower of strength. She’s my North Star that keeps me constant when the going gets tough ... I don’t think the public know what she’s put into it and what it’s cost us."
An emotional Mr Cadogan apologised and said he was tired.
"It’s funny, in signing the contract for my new job [local government engagement specialist at the water services authority Taumata Arowai] it was 40 hours a week and I thought ‘what the hell am I going to do with myself’."
