Macindoe and Taylor eyeing Hamilton mayoral chains

Monday, 6 January 2025

Tim Macindoe (left) and Geoff Taylor are shaping up as the leading contenders to challenge Paula Southgate for the Hamilton mayoralty at October’s local government elections in 2025.

As Paula Southgate mulls running for a third term as Hamilton mayor in 2025, her close rival in 2022 councillor Geoff Taylor says he’s potentially “keen” to run again.

Former National MP turned councillor Tim Macindoe is also eyeing a tilt at the top job.

Taylor, Southgate’s one-time deputy mayor, said in late 2024 that he wasn’t any closer to making an announcement on running again for mayor.

“I think it’s a mistake to announce these things too early” but “I’m certainly…potentially in the running,” he said in an interview.

The Hamilton mayoral chains look set to be a hotly contested fashion accessory again in 2025.

“I need to have some discussions with others, including councillor Macindoe, to see what his intentions are too. But [I’m] feeling pretty keen at the moment.”

On the main things he was concerned about and where he thought he could add value as mayor, Taylor said: “Sensible spending, fiscal responsibility.”

He said that six years ago the council was in a good financial situation.

“Since then our spending behaviour has…doubled our debt levels and I have no confidence that the council won’t just indulge in the same behaviour in terms of spending.

“It needs to be reined in and there need to be some significant changes.”

Grip and grimace - mayoral candidates Paula Southgate and Geoff Taylor at a candidates meeting ahead of the 2022 elections.

Asked whether he was potentially the man to lead that as mayor, Taylor replied: “Yes.”

So he was “thinking seriously” about running for mayor and “having discussions”.

Macindoe, meanwhile, was also still thinking things over when spoken to.

Happy days - the then newly elected city councillor Tim Macindoe at his swearing in this year, with mayor Paula Southgate.

He said he planned to talk to both Southgate and Taylor before making any public announcement but noted that during his time as a councillor “I’ve become pretty frustrated with the way the council operates”.

“I’ve tried on several occasions to make some changes.”

He thinks councillors should be elected by all voters, with no east, west or Māori wards, meaning “every voter having the right to elect every councillor - that’s the only democratic system in my view”.

Macindoe also wants to see the council operate as “a leaner board of directors” with fewer elected members and using the money saved to bring on board people with skills in the likes of forensic auditing and procurement to advise councillors.

A “forensic auditor” would help councillors hone in on issues “we probably don’t have the skills to pick up on”.

“I’m convinced that we are spending more on transport projects than is justified and that some contractors probably clip the ticket as they see council coming.”

He’d like to see AI and “robotics” explored to help make the council more cost effective and easier to deal with.

Macindoe noted he’d voted against the 2024-34 long term plan due to his discomfort with signalled spending.

“I’m not overly thrilled at the prospect [of running for mayor] but I’m definitely still considering it.”

With both Taylor and Macindoe beating a similar drum on finances, one of the key considerations in their both deciding to run may be their potential to split more fiscally conservative voters.