All good things must come to an end, and Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt spoke yesterday at the Invercargill City Council meeting in what could possibly be his last hurrah.
He thanked all councillors for their service over the past three years, and their families for the support. He said after more than 30 years as a Mayor of two cities, the role is often fraught, divisive, and it can bring about extreme criticism.
He said this election and looking forward to the future period, the next term is likely to bring significant change to local government and the completion of the current council.
“If I am unsuccessful in my re-election, I wish it to be known that I feel I have committed many hours of everyday, not to promote myself, as some would scorn. But to make New Zealand and the world know that this is a city where anything is possible and dreams can come true!”
One of his last jobs in this current term was to attend the Queen Elizabeth II State Memorial Service in Wellington along with other Mayors around New Zealand.
In relation to the mayoral robes that he has had the honour of wearing for the past 26.5 years, his Worship said they were threadbare and deteriorating, and recommended they be replaced.
“They cannot be dry cleaned, the Ermine would not survive. Should we have a new Mayor in two weeks. I think it is unlikely they would want to wear an attire I have worn for decades.”
