December 31, 2025 • 6 mins
Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale joins to sum up his second year as mayor, discuss councillors getting a 15.56% raise, and One Love cancelling its 2026 event.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks. It'd be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It's head to beautiful Turtunger, the fifth most populous city
in New Zealand. We all know the mount will be
pumping this summer. The mount is beautiful, beaches, camps, cafes.
But of course we've heard a lot of chatter about
the rates of the transports and the councils and the
commissioners and Totlunger. But now they have a mayor and
the total amor is Mahei Dreisdale, who joins you now,
(00:37):
good morning to you, Mahi.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Oh good?
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Yes, it's it's been nice to have a way bit
of a break.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
And of course you're knew in the job. You took
over on the nineteenth of May twenty twenty four. So
what this is now going to be your second year is.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Mayor, and yes it is.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
So how are things going? Because you know a difficult
period after the commissioners and then of course now you
where are we at with Taruga.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Look, it's been a pretty challenging but rewarding year. It's
very exciting time to be leading a city because we're
full of potential. There's a lot going on. You know,
been one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
You know, there's five tower.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Cranes on the horizon at the moment, you know, with
the CBD coming back to life. So yeah, it's it's
always a challenge trying to do everything with limited resources,
but we can see where that's going and it's pretty
exciting where we're going to get to.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Do you think the towner sometimes doesn't realize just how
big a city it is, and they sometimes still think
that they might be a town, but in fact they
are a big urban center and only growing even faster.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Absolutely, And you know, with fast growth over the past
sort of twenty five years, we've just.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
About doubled our population.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
So I think there's certainly a little bit of a
lag of going from a town to a city. But
we're very much a city now and have of all
those problems. But you know, that's that's what we're working
hard to try to solve.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
So do you think that the city has underinvested in
infrastructure and all sorts of things over that period time,
not expecting that growth? So therefore there's going to be
some big costs going forward.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
A little bit.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Look, I think I think we've invested well, but we
haven't invested fast enough. And that's just you know, the
growth here is really unprecedented for anywhere else in the
country of a city this size, and you know, it's
gone from a city of eighty thousand people or a
town of eighty thousand people to one hundred and sixty
(02:48):
plus thousand people. And you know, with that, it's that
would require a huge amount of infrastructure and absolutely where
we've got a deficit, and we're trying to plug that gap.
But you know, it's not going to happen overnight, and
it's expensive and it takes a long time to build.
So you know, we've just got to be realistic but
(03:08):
just keep going and try not to get further further behind.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
But with that under investment and with that deficit and
with that growth as well, how do you feel about
rate caps because that's going to limit the ability to
fix stuff that needs fixing.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Yeah, it's it's a real challenge and I'm not sure
that it's been well thought out for a fast growing city.
You know that what we've heard from the government is
stick to the basics. We've heard, you know, keep the pipes,
roads and you know, all.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Those those sort of core infrastructure.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
But we won't be able to afford to even build
the core infrastructure at a four percent rates hike. And
you know that's just the reality of how much infrastructure costs,
and you know the reality of being in a fast
growing city. So yes, it's it's going to be pretty harsh.
And you know, we're just working on that at the
(04:03):
moment as to you know, what are the things that
we are no longer going to be able to do
under that system? Uh And you know, I don't know
whether the rate paws will like what they see, and
you know that's but that's unfortunately the reality. If you
want to pay less, you're going to get less. And
that's that's what hasn't been talked about in this debate.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
All right, let's get on to something a little bit
more positive. What's hot in summer in the Bay.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Well, we've we're the events capital of the country, so
you know, we've we've had some great events with with
some some great cricket over the past couple of months.
You know, we had a awesome New Year's sort of
celebrations across the city and you know coming up, We've
we've got the Mount.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Festival of Maldi Sport, the Black.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Clash t T twenty game with rugby versus cricket. We've
got the Chiefs are playing a pre season against Fiji
and Drew.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
We've got d J.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Fisher coming to Bay Oval, We've got UB forty. So
we've just got events all over the place and really
looking forward to, you know, having having everyone come visit
us and enjoy our city and and enjoy enjoy all
those fantastic events.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
And what are you doing for summer?
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Well, we're moving. That's that's been the big challenge. So yeah,
we're we're in the midst of that at the moment,
and you know, settling the kids into a new city
and settling down. So yeah, then then hopefully we'll get
out and enjoy some of these events coming up.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Nothing against Cambridge, but Tearron.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Is beautiful, yeah, very much.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
The kids, you know, love the beach and you know,
we're we're very fortunate to be in a big city.
But you've got you know, one of the best speaches
in the country right on your doorsteps, so you know
it's a great place to be. You know, get out
and do some activities up Mawah and you know up
to Clarence.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
You're going to go for you got to go for
a row over summer or is that something that you
just don't do anymore?
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Oh look, I'm that's something I haven't done for a
long time. I came to give the coastal row and go.
I think that would be good. An hour at the beach.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Ye good stuff, Matty drives down. The Mayor of t
thank you so much for joining us on the Summer Breakfast.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Thanks a lot. Good to talk.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks. It'd be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It's head to beautiful Turtunger, the fifth most populous city
in New Zealand. We all know the mount will be
pumping this summer. The mount is beautiful, beaches, camps, cafes.
But of course we've heard a lot of chatter about
the rates of the transports and the councils and the
commissioners and Totlunger. But now they have a mayor and
the total amor is Mahei Dreisdale, who joins you now,
(00:37):
good morning to you, Mahi.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Oh good?
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Yes, it's it's been nice to have a way bit
of a break.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
And of course you're knew in the job. You took
over on the nineteenth of May twenty twenty four. So
what this is now going to be your second year is.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Mayor, and yes it is.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
So how are things going? Because you know a difficult
period after the commissioners and then of course now you
where are we at with Taruga.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Look, it's been a pretty challenging but rewarding year. It's
very exciting time to be leading a city because we're
full of potential. There's a lot going on. You know,
been one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
You know, there's five tower.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Cranes on the horizon at the moment, you know, with
the CBD coming back to life. So yeah, it's it's
always a challenge trying to do everything with limited resources,
but we can see where that's going and it's pretty
exciting where we're going to get to.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Do you think the towner sometimes doesn't realize just how
big a city it is, and they sometimes still think
that they might be a town, but in fact they
are a big urban center and only growing even faster.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Absolutely, And you know, with fast growth over the past
sort of twenty five years, we've just.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
About doubled our population.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
So I think there's certainly a little bit of a
lag of going from a town to a city. But
we're very much a city now and have of all
those problems. But you know, that's that's what we're working
hard to try to solve.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
So do you think that the city has underinvested in
infrastructure and all sorts of things over that period time,
not expecting that growth? So therefore there's going to be
some big costs going forward.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
A little bit.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Look, I think I think we've invested well, but we
haven't invested fast enough. And that's just you know, the
growth here is really unprecedented for anywhere else in the
country of a city this size, and you know, it's
gone from a city of eighty thousand people or a
town of eighty thousand people to one hundred and sixty
(02:48):
plus thousand people. And you know, with that, it's that
would require a huge amount of infrastructure and absolutely where
we've got a deficit, and we're trying to plug that gap.
But you know, it's not going to happen overnight, and
it's expensive and it takes a long time to build.
So you know, we've just got to be realistic but
(03:08):
just keep going and try not to get further further behind.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
But with that under investment and with that deficit and
with that growth as well, how do you feel about
rate caps because that's going to limit the ability to
fix stuff that needs fixing.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Yeah, it's it's a real challenge and I'm not sure
that it's been well thought out for a fast growing city.
You know that what we've heard from the government is
stick to the basics. We've heard, you know, keep the pipes,
roads and you know, all.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Those those sort of core infrastructure.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
But we won't be able to afford to even build
the core infrastructure at a four percent rates hike. And
you know that's just the reality of how much infrastructure costs,
and you know the reality of being in a fast
growing city. So yes, it's it's going to be pretty harsh.
And you know, we're just working on that at the
(04:03):
moment as to you know, what are the things that
we are no longer going to be able to do
under that system? Uh And you know, I don't know
whether the rate paws will like what they see, and
you know that's but that's unfortunately the reality. If you
want to pay less, you're going to get less. And
that's that's what hasn't been talked about in this debate.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
All right, let's get on to something a little bit
more positive. What's hot in summer in the Bay.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Well, we've we're the events capital of the country, so
you know, we've we've had some great events with with
some some great cricket over the past couple of months.
You know, we had a awesome New Year's sort of
celebrations across the city and you know coming up, We've
we've got the Mount.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Festival of Maldi Sport, the Black.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Clash t T twenty game with rugby versus cricket. We've
got the Chiefs are playing a pre season against Fiji
and Drew.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
We've got d J.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Fisher coming to Bay Oval, We've got UB forty. So
we've just got events all over the place and really
looking forward to, you know, having having everyone come visit
us and enjoy our city and and enjoy enjoy all
those fantastic events.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
And what are you doing for summer?
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Well, we're moving. That's that's been the big challenge. So yeah,
we're we're in the midst of that at the moment,
and you know, settling the kids into a new city
and settling down. So yeah, then then hopefully we'll get
out and enjoy some of these events coming up.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Nothing against Cambridge, but Tearron.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Is beautiful, yeah, very much.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
The kids, you know, love the beach and you know,
we're we're very fortunate to be in a big city.
But you've got you know, one of the best speaches
in the country right on your doorsteps, so you know
it's a great place to be. You know, get out
and do some activities up Mawah and you know up
to Clarence.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
You're going to go for you got to go for
a row over summer or is that something that you
just don't do anymore?
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Oh look, I'm that's something I haven't done for a
long time. I came to give the coastal row and go.
I think that would be good. An hour at the beach.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Ye good stuff, Matty drives down. The Mayor of t
thank you so much for joining us on the Summer Breakfast.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Thanks a lot. Good to talk.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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