Nick Mills: Tory Whanau should be judged on her performance, but not because of her ADHD diagnosis

OPINION

On Wednesday afternoon Newstalk ZB reporter Ethan Manera sat down with Wellington mayor Tory Whanau.

She revealed to him that she's been diagnosed with ADHD and significant traits of autism.

Ethan got the story after finding the Mayor had changed her bio on her Tiktok account, calling herself the “neurospicy Mayor of Wellington”.

Neurospicy is Gen Z talk, meaning neurodivergent.  

So this reporter asked what the deal was, and the Mayor revealed her diagnosis. Whanau said she was diagnosed in April after working with a therapist.

But she says it hasn't hindered her ability to do her job; she says it's impacted her job in a positive way.

After going sober Whanau said traits of autism started appearing a lot more, and ADHD symptoms like hyperfocus were more prevalent in her work.

The reality is that there would be several high-powered business leaders and political leaders who have ADHD. It's not an uncommon disorder.

Tory's diagnosis is certainly not the end of the world.

But here’s what I find most interesting.

Whanau said since receiving the diagnosis she has made changes which include “front-loading” her days to put more challenging tasks at the beginning of the day when she has more energy.

She’s arranged more time for rest as she gets exhausted quickly.

Also interesting is that her meetings are now kept to 30 minutes. People need to get to the point straight away to ensure that she gets lots of rest.

That's probably a positive. There's something to say about all meetings being no longer than 30 minutes.

Whanau said attending events in a mayoral capacity is also challenging with the "autism side of things".

Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of things to criticise Whanau about. But this isn't one of them. 

Personally, I have no issue with a mayor having ADHD or traits of autism.

And frankly, good on Tory Whanau for coming out and being open about the challenges she is facing. 

I’ve always said I like her as a person, not necessarily her politics, but this is open and honest and should be praised. 

And I believe that I would have ADHD if tested.

But then again, I'm not the Mayor of Wellington and don't face the stresses that go with that particular position.

And I've worked with some very talented people that have been diagnosed with ADHD and have been on the spectrum.

They're normally extremely focused on the task at hand and good at getting things done.

My difficulty with this particular scenario at Wellington City Council is that I feel that Tory now needs a very strong and capable deputy mayor. 

If I was advising Tory Whanau right now I would be looking for someone to assist her as a deputy who is more appealing to the public than Laure Foon.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk Said B.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
This sweet news Talk, Said B. Reporter Ethan Minera sat
down with Wellington Mayor Torri Farno. She revealed to him
that she'd been diagnosed with ADHD and significant traits of autism.
Ethan got the story after finding the mayor had changed

(00:33):
her bio on her TikTok account, calling herself the Neurospicy
Mayor of Wellington. Neurospicy for some of us, to let
us know is gen z talk. It means neuro divergant
big words. So Ethan asked what the deal was and

(00:55):
the mayor revealed her diagnosis. Farno said she was diagnosed
in April after working with a therapist. She says it's
impacted her job in a positive sense. After going so
Bafano said, traits of autism started appairing a lot more
and ADHD symptoms like hyper focus were more prevalent in

(01:16):
her work. Here's a little bit of what she said
to Ethan.

Speaker 3 (01:20):
Well, to be honest, it's still something I'm learning about myself.
So I've basically gone forty years without this diagnosis. I
have to be like fifteen minutes early for an event
or a meeting.

Speaker 4 (01:34):
All the time, I need a very diligent process.

Speaker 3 (01:39):
I need my house to be spotless, but there'll be
one room in the house that's completely.

Speaker 4 (01:43):
Chaotic for me.

Speaker 3 (01:45):
It just really highlights the importance of efficiency. We like
to ensure that with my diary management. You know, meetings
are kept to.

Speaker 4 (01:53):
Thirty minutes, and you.

Speaker 3 (01:56):
Know people need to get to the point right away,
and we ensure that I get lots of rest.

Speaker 4 (02:01):
So exhaustion is a very common symptom.

Speaker 3 (02:04):
Of course, we also through therapy that for many people
who have ADHD, alcohol use disorders also part of that.

Speaker 4 (02:16):
And how how do you feel that that impacts your
job as mayor well in a positive sense?

Speaker 3 (02:25):
For whatever reason, I've been able to unknowingly utilize it
as a bit of a strength. So that hyper focus,
which is a very very prominent symptom of ADHD, well
I utilize that.

Speaker 4 (02:39):
To become the mayor of Wellington.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
There would be several high powered business leaders and political
leaders that would have ADHD. It's not uncommon disorder and
it's certainly not the end of the world. But here's
what I find most interesting is what we've just heard.
Farno said that since receiving the diagnosis, she's made changes
which include front loading her days more to make more

(03:04):
challenging tasks. At the beginning of the day when she
has more energy, She's arranged more time for rest as
she gets exhausted quickly. Also interesting is that all of
her meetings are now kept to thirty minutes. People need
to get to the point straight away and sure that
she gets rest. I think that's probably a positive. I

(03:24):
think all meetings should be no longer than thirty minutes,
Farno said. Attending events in the Mari marialty capacity is
also challenging with autism side of things. Personally, I have
no issue with having HDHD ADHD or autism. There's plenty
of things to criticize Tory about, but this isn't one

(03:47):
of them. And on the good side, On the good thing,
toris come out and been open about the challenges she's facing.
I've always said that I like Tori as a person.
I don't necessarily like her politics, but this is an
open and honest and it has to be a good thing.
I believe that I could actually have ADHD as well

(04:11):
have tested but then again, I'm not Mayor of Wellington
and the stresses that go with that particular position. I've
worked with some very talented people that have been diagnosed
with ADHD, and I have seen people on the spectrum
that I've worked with Normally, they're extremely focused on task

(04:33):
at hand and good at getting things done. My difficulty
with this particular scenario at Warrington City Council is that
I feel that Tory now needs a very strong and
capable deputy mayor, and if I was Tory's advisor right now,
I'd be looking for someone to assist her as deputy
that was more appealing to the public than Lauri Foon.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news Talks That'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.