Andrew Barker and Rodney Dow
Ōtorohanga’s new mayor Rodney Dow has begun connecting with his new council to develop a mission statement for the term.
Ōtorohanga’s new mayor Rodney Dow, centre, celebrates with, from left. councillors Jo Butcher, Jaimee Tamaki, Katrina Christison and Tennille Kete. Photo: Chris Gardner
Many of the district’s new councillors joined Dow for drinks at Ōtorohanga Club on Saturday afternoon, as election results trickled through from council chief executive Tanya Winter.
Tanya Winter
Preliminary results showed Dow received 1987 votes – well ahead of rivals Cathy Prendergast, 593 votes, and Jaimee Tamaki, 488.
It was an open race after sitting mayor Max Baxter decided to step back from local body politics.
When Dow’s win was confirmed Michelle Erikson, his partner of six years, fiancée and campaign manager, rushed out to get him a congratulatory silver sash.
“I am pretty happy,” Dow said. “I expected to win.”
After connecting with his team Dow’s 100-day plan includes revisiting the decision to swap the council’s longstanding kiwi logo for Te Ōhanga “The Nest”. Dow voted against the decision in December, and the council has since received a 380-signature petition objecting to the move.
Third on his list was fixing what looked like a second storey broken window at the council’s headquarters, he said.
Dow, 59, was first elected to the council’s Ōtorohanga Ward in 2020 when the resignation of councillor Paul McConnell forced a byelection. He completed the term and was re-elected in 2022 to the Kio Kio-Korakonui Ward.
Cathy Prendergast, Rodney Dow and Jaimee Tamaki
Dow was born and raised in Ōtorohanga.
He went to Ōtorohanga South School and Ōtorohanga College.
“I wanted to leave college as soon as I possibly could,” Dow told a candidates’ meeting before the election.
“My father said I wasn’t allowed to leave college unless I had an apprenticeship to go to.”
Motor Preparations owner Ron Chatfield said he would take Dow on if he did well in maths.
“I thought to myself ‘great, but I have a problem, I haven’t listened to the teacher all year’.”
From left Liz Reymer, Steve Hughes and Rodney Dow at the Tractor Pull
Dow asked for help and achieved a 97 per cent pass rate.
“I learned from that if I am prepared to put the effort in and ask for help, I can reach my goals.”
Rodney Dow – Otorohanga mayor
Dow left school at 15 to start an automotive machinist apprenticeship at Motor Preparations.
Dow was 18 when he lost his father Dennis Dow who died suddenly at the age of 45 at the annual Truckies vs Cockies charity rugby match at Island Reserve.
Dow enjoyed an OE in Brisbane, Australia, where he worked as an automative machinist. After returning home he drove for Ōtorohanga Transport, the Ōtewā Road trucking firm founded by his late father and late uncle – and a mentor – Jim Barker.
He has served as managing director of the 50-truck business for 25 years. It now has branches in Te Kūiti, Dargaville and Kaikohe.
Dow believes it is time for his new team to review council costs line by line and decide what council services should be funded by rates or other means.
“We need to go through it and ask should we be spending money on this,” he said.
“Like we did at home with Sky TV when you cut back your subscription to what you watch.”
He wants to ditch consultants in favour of a think tank comprising Ōtorohanga business leaders.
Asked to compare himself to his predecessor, Dow said Max Baxter had always allowed different views to be heard in the council chamber and he had brought different cultures to the table.
“What I will do differently from Max is my footwear will not be the same fashion genre as his,” he said.
Andrew Barker, left, and Rodney Dow congratulate each other. Photo: Chris Gardner
