Outgoing Taupō Mayor David Trewavas is going to miss the meeting and greeting that goes with the job but says the council meetings were never his favourite part of the job.

By Dan Hutchinson

A mood for change affected numerous sitting mayors around the country in last weekend’s council election and David came third in the race this time around.

He has been a familiar face around the district in his four terms as mayor, attending a huge number of events – big and small.

“That's been the best part of the job is meeting all the different people and ... from all walks of life and helping people, you know.”

He says one of the funniest moments he had as mayor was when one of his constituents complained about having his underwear stolen from the clothes line at his pensioner flat.

“I said ‘no problem, Pete, I'll get you some more’. So I went to Farmers and got him a voucher.”

“And the last job on Friday night (October 10) involved organising freedom for a German tourist who was locked in the toilets down at the boat harbour.

“So, you know, the varied things that you get involved with, but that's what I love. I just love sort of helping people.”

He’s had six terms on the Taupō District Council, two as councillor, including a term as Deputy Mayor and four terms as Mayor.

“I don't enjoy the elongated council meetings much and policy and all that. So that's why I always had good people around me that, you know, who would help me through those things.

“I'm the old school man, probably, being approachable and that sort of thing. That's what I'm most comfortable with.”

He’s not sure what he’s going to do next. He’s had a few phone calls but will take a few weeks to decide.

Previous careers include being a stock agent, he was chief executive of King Country Rugby Union for a while and spent 40 years in retail.

“I'm most comfortable up at Owen Delany Park with a bowl of chips and a beer, watching the rugby, you know. That was my Saturday afternoon treat, as it were.”

Notable achievements during his tenure as Mayor include a key role in lobbying to save the local rescue helicopter service, with the Government of the day looking to centralise services.

He pulled out all the stops even calling on famous names like Rachel Hunter and Helen Clark to lobby on behalf of the local service.

Lobbying Central Government to get funds for the CBD redevelopment and the new Taupō Airport Terminal were also key projects in his time.

Other key relationships have made an impact too such as the continuation of direct flights from Taupō to Auckland.

“My relationship with Air New Zealand has been one of my strengths, with the latest one, with (previous ceo) Greg Foran, to maintain their service in Taupō.

“There's been times that they've said, ‘oh, you know, we might have to look at that service’, but I've had a very good relationship, especially with Greg Foran.”

He has maintained close contact with successive prime ministers and says maintaining an apolitical stance was important.

“I've always had a great connection right from Helen Clark to John Key ... Chris Hipkins, and then Luxon. I've always maintained that tight connection with them.”

He says applications for funding for various things like the airport and the downtown Taupō reconstruction did not just happen.

“They come by, you know, by connection and by visitations and all that sort of thing.”

It hasn’t always been plain sailing and in early 2019, David underwent a kidney transplant, with his wife Anna donating one of her’s.

The pair spent 10 hours in surgery for the proceedure.

David has ongoing medication for the transplant, but remarkably has not missed a full council meeting in the last three years.

“I've just got to do what (the doctors) say and it is surprising how much better you feel when you do what they say.”

He says he will assess all of his options but whatever he does next but he likes being active and being involved, so no doubt people will see him around soon.