Mayor of Tauranga

Mahé Drysdale was elected to be the Mayor of Tauranga after the 2024 local body elections.

About Mayor Mahé Drysdale

Mayor Mahé Drysdale

As Mayor of Tauranga, Mahé’s vision is to see Tauranga fulfil its potential, so it becomes known as New Zealand’s best city.

Our city’s population is growing, so he is focused on delivering the infrastructure and facilities that the Tauranga community needs and wants, while ensuring that every ratepayer dollar is spent smartly and efficiently.

Financial acumen

Mahé brings experience in accounting and financial management to the governance table having worked in investment and advisory roles for both Hobson Wealth and Forsyth Barr Limited. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Auckland in accounting and commercial law. He also completed a Graduate Diploma of Commerce in information technology. He worked in an accounting firm early in his career and is an ACA with Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CAANZ).

Sporting achievements

Mahé is a two-time Olympic Champion in 2012 and 2016 in the single scull and won the World Championship five times, so knows what it takes to set and achieve ambitious goals on the global stage.

Mahé was Flag Bearer and Team Captain of the New Zealand Olympic Team at the 2008 Games. He was the Supreme Halberg Award Winner in 2006 and winner of the Sportsman of the Year at the Halberg Awards 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2016. He was inducted as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (M.N.Z.M) in 2009.

Since retiring from professional sport, Mahé has been a mentor and leader. He has been a strong advocate for elite athletes as a co-Chair of the Athletes Co-operative, which has sought to improve terms and conditions of elite athletes with High Performance Sport New Zealand.

A long-standing connection to Tauranga

Mahé was raised in Tauranga, attending Tauranga Primary School, Tauranga Intermediate and Tauranga Boys' College before heading to Auckland for his sixth form and then direct to University in Auckland. He took up the sport of rowing at university – he went on to have a very successful 22-year career in the sport.

His grandfather, the late Sir Robert Owens, served as Mayor of Tauranga (1968-1977) and Mount Maunganui (1971-1974).

He is married to Juliette and has three children.

Mahé welcomes the opportunity to be involved in the community and for people to share their views.

How to contact the mayor

Correspondence for the Mayor of Tauranga

Email mayor@tauranga.govt.nz if you have any general correspondence for the Mayor of Tauranga.

Media queries for the Mayor of Tauranga

Email communications@tauranga.govt.nz if you have a media query for the Mayor of Tauranga.

Follow the mayor on social media

Post a letter to the mayor

Mayor Mahé Drysdale
Private Bag 12022
Tauranga 3143

Invite the mayor to an event

Email maree.king@tauranga.govt.nz if you would like to invite the mayor to an event.

In your invitation, please describe the event, including:

Event name
Date and time of event
Location
An idea of who will be attending.
Duration of the event
Desired duration of the mayor’s attendance
Whether you would like the mayor to give a speech – if so, what you would like him to talk about and how long you would like the speech to be? (three to five minutes is the average length of a speech).

The mayor’s Executive Assistant will check his availability. If the mayor is not available, the mayor’s office may suggest that the invitation be extended to another Tauranga City Council elected representative.

For enquiries, please contact us on 07 577 7011.

For general council enquiries contact Tauranga City Council.

News

Tauranga Moana Manu Champs becomes official world qualifying event

Get ready to dust off your togs and perfect those bombs, as this year’s Tauranga Moana Manu Champs is set to make a bigger splash than ever before.

For the first time, the annual Tauranga Moana bombing competition has been named an official qualifying event for the 2025 Z Manu World Champs. Along with local bragging rights, the winners in both the Manu and Freestyle jumping divisions will be fast-tracked into the Z Manu World Champs grand final in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, on 1 March 2025.

City Development and Partnerships General Manager Gareth Wallis says the annual Tauranga Moana Manu Champs is always a popular event and this year we’re stepping it up another notch, giving our local community the chance to compete on the world stage.

“Tauranga Waterfront is the place to be this summer, and having the opportunity to partner with Z Manu World Champs to expand our annual bomb competition into a world qualifier is a perfect way to kick off a busy summer in the city centre.

“With the Northern Waterfront transformation now complete, people will be able to enjoy the new green space, basketball court and boardwalk while checking out all the exciting things on offer at the Tauranga Moana Manu Champs” says Gareth.

Owner and Event Director for Z Manu World Champs, Scott Rice says they saw how much local talent was at the Tauranga Moana bomb competition last year and wanted to get amongst the fun for another epic event.

“Tauranga Moana will be our first official qualifying event for the Z Manu World Champs 2025 and a perfect way to kick off another summer of Manu. Bring the whānau along, challenge your friends and make a splash, you never know who the next Manu World Champ might be.”

Taking place on Saturday, 7 December 2024, the free family event organised by Tauranga City Council in partnership with Z Manu World Champs will be one you won’t want to miss with free fades, free sausage sizzle, music, giveaways and lots more.

The competition is open to people aged 8 and older and is free to enter. There are limited numbers in each gender and age category, so people are encouraged to register online and get there early on the day to secure a spot.

Where: Public wharf, Tauranga Southern Waterfront
When: Saturday, 7 December 2024, 10.30am - 4.30pm

Find out more information and register your spot for the Tauranga Moana Manu Champs at whatsontauranga.co.nz/manuchamps

Image caption

Tauranga Moana Manu Champs

Posted: Nov 11, 2024,

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Phone +64 7 577 7000

Email info@tauranga.govt.nz

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