Tauranga Mayor, Mahé Drysdale and Dunedin Mayor, Sophie Barker, are in New York this week to begin the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, a prestigious international programme focused on strengthening mayoral leadership and improving local government performance.
They are among a cohort of 46 mayors from 15 countries selected for the nine-month programme.
The programme combines classroom learning, virtual sessions and project-based work focused on addressing real-world challenges facing participating cities.
“Tauranga is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing cities, and with that growth comes both opportunity and complexity. I’m looking forward to learning from world-leading experts and connecting with mayors tackling many of the same issues we face” says Mayor Drysdale.
“A key focus for Tauranga is making better use of data, research and evidence to understand affordability barriers, future demographic trends, and what has worked elsewhere to create vibrant, thriving city centres.
“Getting this right is about a combination of affordable living, reducing pressure on transport networks, slowing urban sprawl, strengthening our economy and improving quality of life for current and future residents.”
Through the initiative, Mayor Drysdale said he and senior Tauranga City Council officials will gain access to world-leading leadership development, practical management tools, and a global network of mayors and municipal leaders focused on delivering better outcomes for their communities.
“The programme will provide valuable insights, practical tools and fresh perspectives that can help us deliver for our community. It also gives Tauranga access to an international network of city leaders and innovators whose experiences can help inform our work at home,” he said.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to bring global best practice back to Tauranga as we continue building a city where people can live, learn, work and thrive.”
In an online post, Mayor Barker (pictured above) said she was thrilled to join the 10th class of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative.
“This work begins as I step into the classroom this week alongside 46 fellow mayors from 15 different countries, who together lead over 22 million residents. Together, we will gain strategies – and put them to work in city hall – to move our residents’ chief priorities forward, and deliver,” she said.
As participants, the Mayors will also join Bloomberg Philanthropies’ broader Government Innovation network, providing ongoing access to the knowledge and experience of thousands of mayors and municipal officials worldwide.
Attendance in the programme and all associated costs are fully funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. More information on the programme is available here.
