New mayor to be chosen at council meeting this week

The countdown is on to a new mayor for the Central Otago District - but it won't be voters putting someone in the ultimate decision making seat.

Instead at a full meeting of the district council to be held in Alexandra on Wednesday morning councillors will choose one of their own to rise from within their ranks to be mayor.

The move comes after mayor Tim Cadogan vacated the role in favour of a new job in Wellington with national water regulator Taumata Arowai.

Mr Cadogan earlier indicated he timed his resignation for Labour Weekend, less than one year out from the local government elections scheduled for October 2025, meaning his career decision does not trigger a by-election.

In a final regular Facebook Live session last week, the departing mayor suggested he already knew whom would replace him and it was his opinion they would be "magnificent" in the job.

Meanwhile, the councillors themselves have been relatively quiet about any predetermined outcome to Wednesday's discussion.

Deputy mayor Neil Gillespie, a long-time Cromwell councillor and community board member, has told Crux is full-time role with Contact Energy at the Clyde Dam means he is "unlikely" to step into the mayoral position, but he will do "what's best for the council".

Meanwhile Vincent Ward councillor Tamah Alley is rumoured to have mayoral aspirations, however she too earlier told Crux she will "let it play out" at the meeting.

In 2022, the former police officer received the most votes of any contender for Vincent seats around the decision making table.

She now chairs the Vincent Community Board, and sits on the council's Audit and Risk Committee, its Executive Committee, and its Assessment Committee, which she also chairs. In addition, she is lead councillor for the Community Vision and Experience Portfolio.

Councillor Alley also chairs the executive committee for the zone six group of Local Government New Zealand.

Vincent Ward councillor Tamah Alley (Image: CODC).

In her self-written blurb on the council's website, she introduces her husband Matt and three children, who she lives with near Alexandra.

"Formally a police constable, I am passionate about enabling positive outcomes for our communities, both urban and rural," she says.

"I bring proven leadership, communication and mediation skills, along with energy and enthusiasm to help shape our region for future generations."

Whoever becomes mayor this week, they take on the job only in the interim - it will be back to the polls in October for the local government elections, albeit with that person having the advantage of being the incumbent.

Before then, however, the interim mayor will need to lead a council to draft, consult on, and adopt a Long Term Plan to determine council spending for the decade ahead.

The council earlier opted to take up an option presented by central government to delay the established three-yearly planning process by a year to factor in significant changes in national direction regarding three waters reforms.

Annual renumeration for the Central Otago District mayor is set at $125,312.

Wednesday's council meeting will be held in council chambers in Alexandra starting at 10.30am. It will also be live-streamed. The mayoral decision is one of the first on the agenda.

Main image (Supplied/CODC): The new Central Otago District Council after being sworn in, October 2022.