1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:01,280 Speaker 1: I sunk in there. 2 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 2: Luk yet sunk in I initiated six months ago that 3 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 2: I was not going to stand. So this day's been coming. 4 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 2: I know this day's been coming. So we're in there 5 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 2: and I've accepted it, and the officer's cleaned. It's cleaned out, 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,799 Speaker 2: ready for new mealers to come in. 7 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 3: That wouldn't have taken much, if anything. It would have 8 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 3: been more admin in the old building right where you 9 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 3: collected all the stuff. 10 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:23,080 Speaker 1: No, that's right. 11 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 2: A lot of stuff came over and more stuff got 12 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 2: dumped from the old office, so you're having that move 13 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 2: from one building to the other. It was a recently 14 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 2: good It kept the paperwork down low. And today we 15 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 2: don't have a lot of paperwork as well. We noticed 16 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: we have the tablets and everything is sitting on those screens. 17 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 2: Technology is marvelous from what it was from twenty one 18 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 2: years ago when we had faxes and the gendas used 19 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 2: to be fixed and the fax machine would just pump 20 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:55,279 Speaker 2: out paper minute after minute of what's arriving, and all 21 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: the genas also printed and delivered, hand delivered, And from 22 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: what we've got from then to what we have now 23 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: is so superior. 24 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 3: How did the political journey start for you. 25 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 2: I think Liz noted it in my valedictory speech that 26 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 2: she gave. And it goes back to counselor Daryl Nelson, 27 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 2: who I knew Daryl because he lived at Ricara and 28 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 2: I was out rakay away and he said to me, 29 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 2: how about you step up for counsel And since he said, 30 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 2: I looked like a fell with a bit of now, 31 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 2: so he thought I'd make a good counselor, so I 32 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 2: thought you out of that, I thought about it and thought, well, 33 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: I don't know if I whant to do this. So 34 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 2: I did put my name Ford, and I thought, oh, well, 35 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 2: I won't get elected because others will put their name Ford, 36 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 2: and I'll have done it. 37 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: And not achieved and not just appeased him. 38 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 2: And what did happen was there was only two candidates 39 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 2: for two positions, so I got elected unopposed. So there 40 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: was the start of the journey that happened on two 41 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 2: occasions of being elected unopposed. 42 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 3: Did it? 43 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: Yeah? 44 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 3: So when was the first time you actually had to 45 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 3: fight for the job. 46 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,639 Speaker 2: I think it was the following year two thousand and seven, 47 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 2: and then I got re elected voted on then in 48 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 2: two thousand and seven, and then I think twenty ten 49 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 2: it was unopposed. 50 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: Again. 51 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 3: It's a unique setting in a way that every three 52 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 3: years you've got to be prepared to put up a 53 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 3: fight in order to keep your job. Essentially, right, yeah, 54 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 3: you do. 55 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 2: It depends how passionate you are you want to keep 56 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,519 Speaker 2: your job, and what you're going to do and and 57 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: what you promise you're going to deliver on. And sometimes 58 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 2: I listen and see the promises that people make and 59 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 2: thinking there's no way you can deliver. The biggest one 60 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 2: out there is we're going to lower rates, and it 61 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: just cannot happen. Well, it can happen, but if you're 62 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: going to lower the rates, you got to lower your services. 63 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: So which services don't you want? Which lawns don't you want? Mode, 64 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 2: Which toilets don't you want cleaned? Which cemetery do you 65 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 2: want to close down? Which library do you want to shut? 66 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: Have many less box all those sorts of things. What 67 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 2: streets do you not want cleaned or tar sealed? And 68 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 2: which water supply guy do you not want? Or will 69 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 2: just let leak? All those hard is you can't not 70 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 2: do them, so and they cost more every year just 71 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: because of inflation. But our task is the counselor's. Mayor's 72 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 2: role is to keep those rate rises to a minimum 73 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 2: to deliver the services that the people want, and that 74 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: is difficult. 75 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 3: Did you serve as deputy under Donna Fable and then 76 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 3: it was the following election that you decided to democrat 77 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 3: at the top job? Talk us through that move. 78 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: Here was the deputy to be a donner here for 79 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 2: three years and leading up to the election, people said 80 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: to me out in the community, we'd like you to 81 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 2: be our mayor. 82 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: Say a thing about that, and. 83 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 3: It's quite flattering in away, isn't it. 84 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: Well it was, and once again I thought, okay, I'll 85 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 2: give it, give it a shot, and if the people 86 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: don't want me to be mayor, will so be it. 87 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 2: And it was for me, it was meor or nothing. 88 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: I felt the real people were sort of slightly getting 89 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 2: missed out upon, and here was I could come in 90 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 2: and help rural as well as urban. It lift the 91 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: whole district. As they're saying, goes a rising boat, A 92 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 2: rising tide lifts all boats. 93 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: So that's what I want everyone to lift. 94 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 3: Do you really have more influence as mayor? V A 95 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 3: counselor No, you get one. 96 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 2: You get one vote. But you're the chairman of the 97 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: board so to speak. So you're the spokesman for the board. 98 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: You're the person who gives the speeches. And you've got 99 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 2: to get the board or the counselors all on the 100 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 2: same page as yourself. So then when you make a decision, 101 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 2: ceazy because you're all in the pointing in the same direction. 102 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 3: Your chief whip pretty much chief whip. Yeah right, Well, 103 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 3: by all accounts, Neil, you've done a pretty good job. 104 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 3: What do you think Do you feel like you've done 105 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 3: a good job. 106 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm happy. I'm happy, we've achieved some stuff. 107 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 2: We've got through some difficult times as well, and I'm 108 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: reflecting they're back on the twenty one floods, the Eshburton 109 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: River flooded and hugely and flooded farmland. Ashburton Town was 110 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 2: saved because of the stop bank, that one and two 111 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 2: hundred year stop bank. We had a few that stop 112 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 2: bank hadn't been there, and I think we go back 113 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: to Counselor McKay or me and mackay it was when 114 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 2: he was on the Regional Council to think for that. 115 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 1: He pushed hard for that stop bank. 116 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 2: To be built to the level it is in goodness 117 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: and yeah, hindsight, that was a great achievement that me 118 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 2: and McKay counsel mckaye at the time did way back then. Yeah, 119 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 2: that was for the farmland was flooded and they needed 120 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 2: remediation work done there and lots of people affected, and 121 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 2: yeah we all showed empathy for those people. Sympathy and 122 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 2: looking at it now they've all reasonably fully recovered, slightly 123 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 2: different than what it was before though, and other achievements 124 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: I suppose is the bridge is probably the big one, 125 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 2: the big highlight, getting it locked and loaded and not. 126 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 3: Quite there yet, Oh yes it is. 127 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 2: It's the work has started, the background work, the paperwork 128 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 2: can scenting everything and it can't be stopped now it's 129 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 2: too far through. It will be happening. It'll be starting 130 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 2: diggers in the river or on the making the road 131 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: in probably February of next year, which is only four 132 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 2: months away really. 133 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 3: Whilst the floods the trigger for the bridge. We've been 134 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 3: talking about this since the dawn of time, since I 135 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 3: was at primary school Nell. You know, the need for 136 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 3: a second Ashburton Bridge was the twenty twenty one floods, 137 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 3: and you'll view the thing that got it over the line. 138 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: It was the straw that broke the camel's back. 139 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: We definitely needed a bridge because the bridge we had 140 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 2: is full and we all know that, and it just 141 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 2: needed one more thing to cement it in place. 142 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 1: And that was it. 143 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 2: So when that pear dropped on the bridge, it's there air. 144 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 2: It showed the vulnerability of it, and it cut the 145 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 2: South holand and half the supermarket shelves and an Eden 146 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 2: and Vicago. 147 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: We're getting bare. 148 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,919 Speaker 2: They were looking at boating food down to the wharf, 149 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 2: which was going to take days and days. The next 150 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: thing was helicopter it or flying it, and which would 151 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 2: have been hugely expensive. So then the bridge was shut 152 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 2: for two days wybe three days, and there was an 153 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 2: economic study done on it. It was costing a million 154 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:12,239 Speaker 2: dollars a day for when it was shut. 155 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 3: Wow, an economic impact. 156 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: On that bridge was million dollars a day. So you know, 157 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 2: one hundred and twenty million to build the bridge in 158 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 2: the road four months four months of that bridge being shut, 159 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: and if that peer had been washed away, it would 160 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 2: have been out for longer than that. So just to 161 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 2: cost benefit analysis of a new bridge. Yeah, but it 162 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 2: works in government's paying one hundred percent of the bridge too. 163 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 2: That was the deal we did in the minister's. 164 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 3: Officer, Well, did you expect that? 165 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 2: I didn't expect one hundred percent. No, but I was 166 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 2: expecting something. 167 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 3: How did you get that done? Are you one heck 168 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 3: of a negotiator? 169 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 2: I think it goes back to relationships. The minister at 170 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 2: the time of Transport, Semian Brown. I'd got to know 171 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 2: him before he was in government, so we had a 172 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 2: relationship there when he was in opposition and he had 173 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 2: been down here with when the floods were on as 174 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 2: well as other politicians had been, and he had seen 175 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 2: the vulnerability of it. So once he was in the 176 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 2: hot seat, so to speak, he could see we need 177 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 2: to do something. And I was saying, Minister, it's your 178 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 2: problem this bridge. 179 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: That's your bridge. 180 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 2: It's going to fail, which is going to just not 181 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 2: help the economy of the South Island. So he directs 182 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 2: me to stump up a fear bit of it. 183 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, so he stumped up the lot. 184 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, he did the bridge and said we'll do the bridge, 185 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 2: me and Neil, you do the road. 186 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 3: It seems like a pretty good deal in Alwariness. 187 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 1: I think it's a pretty good deal. 188 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,839 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, And they'll own that bridge. It's going to 189 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 2: be a state highway bridge. The government will own it 190 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 2: and pay for it and maintain it from here on 191 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 2: through as well. 192 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 3: Shortest piece of state highway in the country I've been told. Yeah, 193 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 3: is it true that you've got naming rights? Is it 194 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 3: actually going to be Brown's Bridge? 195 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: I'm not sure how we get to name it, but 196 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: that might be. Yeah. 197 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 2: The our local MP, James Meighan, has called it that. Yeah, 198 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 2: but who is it? 199 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: Simeon Brown or Neil Brown? We or do we share it? 200 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: Both got the same last name, not related either that. Yeah, 201 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: it is to see what what name it does get. 202 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 3: I think there's one that's particular driver behind that. Hey, 203 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 3: just quickly on the floods. You still got the flood jersey. 204 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 3: We always saw you in that jersey. You seven auctioned 205 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 3: off or anything. 206 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: It's turned into a nice jerseys. But holy there I 207 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: got a lot of weird Yeah, got it. 208 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 3: It's but like Bob Parker, you know, post earthquakes, where 209 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 3: we was always in that fluoro jacket for you, it's 210 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 3: the flood jersey. 211 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, it. 212 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 2: Liz remembers it well, she said it in my valedictory speech. 213 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I still got it. 214 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 3: Oh good, oh good. 215 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 2: It was nice and warm and a nice big collar 216 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 2: on it. Stop the rain going down my neck because 217 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 2: we spend a lot of time out in the rain. 218 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 3: Well as you do. You know, it's like a reporter 219 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 3: on the front line demonstrating just how bad the conditions are. Hey, 220 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,559 Speaker 3: so the job of mayor out most nights of the 221 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 3: week and stuff. Not being able to walk down the 222 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 3: aisle of the Supermarke without somebody bailing you up. It 223 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 3: must take its toll. More so on on loved ones. 224 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 3: How much do you owe to your family, to wife 225 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 3: Judy for enabling the past six years in particular. 226 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: I oh a lot. Yeah, the families. 227 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, haven't seen probably that much of me in the 228 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 2: last six years, apart from sort of holidays or Christmas. 229 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 3: It's a long time in Judy. 230 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, she's been there. She's been as I said, she's 231 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 2: she's the rock behind it all. She's ha's everything ready 232 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 2: that I need and sometimes I need to I've forgotten 233 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 2: something and could you bring us in and yep, yep, she's. 234 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: On the way. 235 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 3: Producer duty. 236 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, you need that. 237 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 2: No, really, family is really important and you need to 238 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:47,959 Speaker 2: take some time for them. You just can't do the 239 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 2: job one hundred percent. You just got to have that 240 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 2: one percent for family time. And even you know, some 241 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: events we get called to where duty comes along as well. 242 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: It's it's good. It's like a social outing as well, 243 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 1: and you get spend time together. 244 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 3: Does it feel that way though? 245 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 2: It depends on the type of function, so yeah. Sometimes, Yeah, 246 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 2: you had to talk to people and there was one 247 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 2: on ones where duty wasn't included, so and she had 248 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: to make conversation with others preps in the same boat. 249 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 2: And yeah, she obviously met a lot of people that 250 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 2: way as well. 251 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: You get it a. 252 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 2: Balance, right, because when we were on farm, going back 253 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: twenty years or thirty here, we were sort of being 254 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,319 Speaker 2: for morning to your lunch and then dinner at night. 255 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: It was you were always there together. And now it's different. 256 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 2: It's like your head off at eight thirty in the 257 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 2: morning and don't get back till sometimes nine ten o'clock 258 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 2: at night. Yeah wow, yeah, not all the time, but sometimes, 259 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 2: And you don't get a lot of meals at home 260 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 2: as well. You enjoy your home cooked meal at times 261 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 2: two on the roads or die for it and a 262 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 2: lot of the food was snaky food too, and yeah 263 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 2: sometimes not that hell, so you've got to watch there 264 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 2: and Liz is often new mere school next weekend or 265 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 2: the next next week, yes, and she'll be given all 266 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 2: these tips on eating healthy and they'll be stalling her 267 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 2: up on on what what a what the expectations of 268 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 2: the mirror. And there's also good support a local government. 269 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 2: New Zealand for me is like there's a phone you 270 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 2: can just ring, and other mayors as well around the 271 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 2: around the country. She'll get to know them on that 272 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 2: first meeting because we all first to me is there, 273 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 2: and she'll get relationships there and give them a call. 274 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: Up and even older me is coming back. 275 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 2: They might get a little buddy system so they can 276 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:47,959 Speaker 2: have a little you know one or ones and if 277 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 2: they need to know something, phone call and yeah, just 278 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 2: a chat that's all you need at times. 279 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 3: Now's the time we dope them with all the information. 280 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 3: So she goes, oh too late, Now. 281 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: What have I done? 282 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 3: What's your top tip? Then what's your big piece of advice. 283 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: For the new mayor? 284 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:14,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, but get to know the counselors engage with the counselors. 285 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:18,679 Speaker 2: They are your team, so you really need to do 286 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 2: the one on ones with them, find out what the 287 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 2: what the achievements, what do they want to achieve, and 288 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 2: see how you can work on that all together to 289 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 2: get the best best out of it. But also take 290 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 2: some time for yourself at times. Yeah, and have probably 291 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 2: have a mentor or to someone you can ring and 292 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 2: talk to and chat about stuff confidentially. Sometimes you just 293 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 2: want to, you know, just drop some stuff on someone 294 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,079 Speaker 2: and they don't say much back, but you've just you've 295 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 2: just donloaded it. 296 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 3: Sometimes you just want to vent. Well, it's like any job. 297 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: Isn't it pretty much? Pretty much? 298 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, a few bore quick questions, Neil, Yet a lot 299 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 3: of supporters out there encouraging you to run again. Why 300 00:13:58,400 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 3: didn't you? What was the deal break? 301 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 2: It wasn't the fact that I've done six years as 302 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 2: mere as the fact was I've done twenty twenty one 303 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 2: years on councils as a whole, and that's a fair 304 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:11,679 Speaker 2: length of time. And when you look at the family too, 305 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 2: you know it's time to go give back on the family. 306 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 2: So yeah, I think that the time was right after 307 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 2: twenty one years. 308 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 3: So you were genuinely wanting to find the balance, then 309 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 3: you weren't tired, or it wasn't because you were reading 310 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 3: the tea leaves. Because there's some pretty stiff headwinds out 311 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 3: there for councils over the coming term. When you think about, 312 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 3: you know, the expectations on three waters and regulations and whatnot, 313 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 3: you went sitting there going, oh, man, I don't know 314 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 3: if I've got the energy for that fight. 315 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 1: I know I would have had the energy for that fight. Yeah, yeah, 316 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: what have you? 317 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, there were the three waters or the local water 318 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 2: done well, that's set up. 319 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: We're on a pathway for that. 320 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 2: We're doing it in house in Ishburton and'll that'll be 321 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 2: set up in the next eighteen months to carry on. 322 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: People won't notice much difference at all to their water 323 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: the three. 324 00:14:57,880 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 3: Water thankless task real didn't they know. 325 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 2: But it'll be governed differently and run differently, and there's 326 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 2: Commerce Commission amongst it then too, so the b few 327 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 2: extra costs come in, but supposedly our water will be better, 328 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 2: safer environmentally and all those sorts of things as well. 329 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 2: So yeah, yeah, no, I was certainly up for a 330 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 2: challenge if I hadn't done as many times terms as counselor, 331 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 2: I would have gone from here again. But it was 332 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 2: the twenty one years was the trigger. It's sort of 333 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 2: like a third of my life, right. 334 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 3: It was purely came down to the number. 335 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 2: Then pretty much a year okay, yeah, and there's good 336 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 2: people to lead on and looking at the council that's 337 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 2: been elected, yeah, great, great looking council. 338 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: They'll do well. 339 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 3: Neat atticle last week suggested that you're ready to jump 340 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 3: back in the tractor cab. What are your plans? 341 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: Yeah? I got some instructions or a text last night 342 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: from my son. What are you doing this afternoon? 343 00:15:59,240 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 3: Really? 344 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 2: So apparently there's a pivot irrigator wheel that's got a 345 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 2: flat tire, So first job is he'll have that orphan. 346 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 2: I'm picking it up and bring it there spurt and 347 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 2: to get repaired and then drop back out and get 348 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 2: theer go to go again. So yeah, the first text 349 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 2: message has come through with my instructions. 350 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 3: It must be pretty exciting hands on on farm again. 351 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 1: Looking forward to it. Yeah, doing something really productive with 352 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: the hands. Yeah. 353 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 3: I loved reading in that article last week about the 354 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 3: novelty scissors, and I was surprised it was this few 355 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 3: twenty six buildings and parks and schools and whatnot have 356 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 3: been opened over the years. Or is that just the 357 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 3: number of the pieces of ribbon that you've held onto. 358 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: There's the number of the pieces of ribbons, right. 359 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 3: Because surely there being the hundreds, hundreds and hundreds of things. 360 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, lots, lots and lots of things. But that's where 361 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 2: an actual ribbons and you, yeah, get to cut the ribbon. 362 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 3: So that's quite quirky. That's something for your scrapbook that 363 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 3: you've held onto. 364 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is, yeah, and I've written on each one 365 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 2: what it was and the date. 366 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 3: Hey, this might be something that surprises people. We were 367 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 3: talking about how you burn the candle. That's every end 368 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 3: you know in this job. And you'd think that reaching 369 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 3: for the caffeine in the morning would be the thing 370 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 3: that helps carry you through. You don't drink coffee, no. 371 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: Never have, what it's the thing? 372 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 3: How the heck? 373 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 2: I think it's hereditary to my son, he doesn't drink coffee, 374 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 2: and one daughter it doesn't drink coffee. 375 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:31,719 Speaker 3: Is it an intolerance or it's a choice. 376 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:35,919 Speaker 1: It's a choice. I've never smoked either. So two slightly 377 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: different things. 378 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 3: But I don't know. I reckon this job would push 379 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 3: you to any number of vices. In all fairness, you 380 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 3: must have been tempted. But after a big ass meeting, 381 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 3: you know on a Wednesday that runs into the late hours, 382 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 3: and then you've got to pull yourself up Thursday morning. 383 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 3: You got a big day. You never thought blow it. 384 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 3: I'm just gonna go and get myself a stiff flat. 385 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 2: White no, no, never, but nice little cup of English 386 00:17:56,760 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 2: breakfast tea, though, goes down a tree. 387 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 3: Maybe I need to make some changes here because this 388 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 3: is about number five that I'm sipping on. This one 389 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 3: not enough, it's making a huge amount of difference. 390 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 2: I think the tea has a bit of caffeine in, 391 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 2: but I don't think I'm not haven't been craving caffeine 392 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 2: at all. 393 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 3: You're finding your highs in other ways. 394 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: Cheap, just life in general, just life in general. 395 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 3: Stop it does. 396 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 2: You You know, when you have a good result and 397 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:28,360 Speaker 2: you see something that's you see that you've helped create, 398 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 2: that does give you a. 399 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 3: High, well on on that fluffy finish, then just to 400 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 3: leave us, Yeah, what you read on Ashburton Districts? How 401 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 3: we look in are we in good steed. 402 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 2: Here here we are with a backbone. Agriculture is our backbone, 403 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:44,199 Speaker 2: and daring and meat at the moment is on an 404 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 2: all time high. Daring just starting to peek off a 405 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 2: bit overseas. But the returns coming into the district are 406 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 2: great and that filters through to everyone in the whole district. 407 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 2: The cropping boys are still looking for a little bit 408 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 2: of price lift and in their products that they have. 409 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 2: But I don't know if you could anyone in Eshburton 410 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 2: who you could say is not affected by a farmer 411 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 2: out there. Yeah, and you could widen it up to 412 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 2: New Zealand. Really everyone goes to a supermarket, and it's 413 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 2: false to say that we don't need farmers because we 414 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 2: have supermarkets. Yeah, we have supermarkets because we have farmers. 415 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, right on, Or you'll be looking forwards to to 416 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 3: being one of them once again. You'll be looking forwards 417 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:30,639 Speaker 3: to being the one moaning about stuff as opposed to 418 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 3: receiving it. 419 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: I don't think I'll moan as much as you perhaps 420 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: did years ago. 421 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:41,719 Speaker 2: I know how it all works, but I think if 422 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,439 Speaker 2: you're going to moan, I wouldn't call it a moan. 423 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: I'd call it a. 424 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,360 Speaker 3: Constructive, constructive criticism. 425 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:49,160 Speaker 1: That's the one. 426 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 2: And I've always said to people have come in and 427 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:55,440 Speaker 2: they've had when I've invited them in to talk about 428 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 2: their issues, I said, now there's your problem. Now you 429 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 2: give me the solution and let's work on that. 430 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: Hey. And if they come up with a. 431 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,679 Speaker 2: Solution and it's half pie there just needs a bit 432 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 2: of tweaking, I'll enact on it and have an acted 433 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 2: on it. 434 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: But just give me the problem, give me the solution 435 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: as well. 436 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 3: It's starting to sound like my boss at the radio 437 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 3: station here. That is a handy life hack, all right. 438 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 3: Enjoy your new found freedom. Looking forward to receiving a 439 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 3: postcard or two at some stage, and I'm sure that 440 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 3: we'll spot you around town outgoing. Me and Neil Brown. 441 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: Thanks very love much, Luke, it's been a pleasure.