Watch NZH Local Focus: Tracey Collis Tararua District's new mayor

Kaysha Brownlie

Tracey Collis has been elected as the new mayor of Tararua District Council, beating four others in the race to fill former two-term mayor Roly Ellis' place.

At the top of her list is travelling out to each of the communities within the Tararua District and "give them greater connection".

Tararua District is large, and she says there is potential for those communities to reach out to each other.

Roading is also a priority, "that's always going to be an issue in the Tararua because we have such a large roading network," she says.

But topping both of those is the Pahiatua water supply after it recently tested positive for e.coli. The new mayor says this will be sorted before anything else.

But she also has a few other plans in the pipeline, including supporting local shops.

"[It's] something I support whole heartedly...shopping locally wherever we can."

"Every dollar we can spend around our own community, it's easier to support local businesses and help them to grow and flourish and create jobs one by one."

Tararua can be a stop-off or drive-through district, but Mrs Collis says there is potential for tourism to take off.

"It's about capturing those tourists and maximising those opportunities right throughout the district."

The Hokonui woman says she is shocked at the margin she won the race by and has just flown out of the District to finish an elite governance programme.

She says the short stint away will give her an opportunity to refine a strategy and return ready to hit the ground running.

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