Local Focus: Happiness makes Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon proudest

Around the country, mayors are reaching the half-way point in their three-year terms.

Local Focus journalist Patrick O'Sullivan talked with Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon on the challenges ahead, half-way through his sixth term in office.

Mayor Meng was not short of big-ticket goals, with infrastructure such as roads, flood control and sewage heading the 2018 agenda.

He said the biggest challenges facing Gisborne were social problems around family violence, alcohol and drugs.

"Those are difficult to deal with but definitely if we can build an economy and share wealth, hopefully that will alleviate some of those unfortunate stats," he said.

The resilience and vision of the Gisborne community is what excited him most.

"Ninety five per cent of our produce goes round New Zealand and exported overseas and so that connection with the world is very important.

"Our children in 10 schools are learning Mandarin."

Several community building projects were completed or underway and the community continued to develop its "sense of place".

"Our region is special because we have special people and our people are the most connected people in New Zealand, the most generous in New Zealand and the happiest people in New Zealand.

"That's what I am really proud of."

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