Hamilton City Council Mayor, Paula Southgate, has announced she will leave politics in October, saying it’s time to make room for the city’s younger, emerging leaders.
After 24 years in local government, including six as Hamilton Mayor and three years leading the Waikato Regional Council, Mayor Southgates says she wants a better work-life balance.
“I knew before standing in 2022 this would be my last term and promised my close friends and family that. I have absolutely loved my time as Mayor – it’s been a huge privilege and
pleasure. But it’s a 24-7 job and I won’t change my mind. I am firmly focused on the future, using my skills and passions in new ways,” she said.
“For me, that includes making way for smart, emerging younger leaders who can use their talents with the city’s best interests at heart. There will be other ways to add value to the community. I don’t need to be mayor to do that.”

The Mayor, who was elected mayor in 2019 and was the Waikato’s only sitting mayor to be re-elected in 2022, believes local government is at a turning point.
“High growth cities like Hamilton need things to be done differently. We can’t just keep expecting ratepayers to pay more and more to cover the huge infrastructure needed to support growth. They can’t afford it and it’s simply not fair.”
She admits to being a “constant voice for change” in Wellington while having to make tough calls around the Council table.
“I won’t apologise for raising concerns about funding and advocating for our city. That is my job. We are in one of New Zealand’s longest economic recessions and everyone is
struggling. I worked really hard to take millions of dollars out of our budget, reduce staff and contractors and say no to new projects. It’s not all roses but sometimes you have to make tough calls.
“We needed – and still need – to look after what the city already has, be as lean as possible and focus on top priorities.”
She says she will leave office proud of what’s been achieved, despite the impacts of Covid and the economic downturn.
“I didn’t stand to create a legacy or build pet projects. It’s not my style. I just wanted to make a positive difference to Hamilton, run a transparent council and offer genuine opportunities for people to get involved.”
Seeing the completion of the bridge to Peacocke, the opening of the new library and community hub at Rototuna, and securing $150 million in government funding for core infrastructure in the central city have been satisfying, she said.
She says some things started under her leadership will take time to come to fruition. That includes seeing new inner city hotels built, and revitalising some older parts of the city.
“Exciting things are well underway including the world-class Waikato Regional Theatre which I have always strongly supported.”