Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan launched her re-election campaign this week, announcing that if elected, it would be her final term in office.
Susan O’Regan will stand again for her last term as mayor. Photo: Supplied.
She revealed she nearly decided not to stand again due to the toll abuse and threats had taken on her and her family.
Cambridge News 24 July 2025
“I was frightened for them at times over the last three years,” she said, confirming she only made the final decision to run at the Local Government New Zealand conference in Christchurch last week.
“To contemplate going through that again really rocked my confidence. It affected me in ways I don’t think people fully appreciated.”
Despite those challenges, O’Regan has chosen to run again and will face long-serving councillors Mike Pettit and Clare St Pierre in the mayoral race.
“I made a commitment to drive the change that’s needed, and I’ve started that work. There’s still more to do.”
Katherine O’Regan
She said she would not promise any “short term wins” during the campaign.
As mayor, she would continue to focus on making the right decisions to keep the district moving forward with “clarity, credibility and purpose”.
O’Regan, 53, is the daughter of the late National Party MP Katherine O’Regan. She was born and raised in Rukuhia, owns a dairy farm in Judge Valley with her husband John Hayward and they have a blended family of five children.
“I feel really deeply connected with the Waipā community. I’ve been here my whole life. I felt I made a promise, a commitment. I feel like it’s only half done.
Family support: Susan O’Regan with, from left son Jack, husband John Hayward and daughter Lily. Photo: Supplied.
She was first elected to Waipā’s Kakepuku ward in 2016, re-elected unopposed three years later and appointed chair of the council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee.
In 2022, she defeated Jim Mylchreest to become Waipā’s first female and fifth mayor.
“My first term as mayor was focussed on much needed, considerable change within council before we could make real progress. We’ve started making big strides in the right direction and there is more to do,” O’Regan said in a media statement today (Wednesday).
She said now was not the time for a change in leadership, a new direction or a different strategy.
“With once-in-a-generation reforms underway in water, planning, and infrastructure, plus all of the pressures that councils around New Zealand are facing, right now is not the time to risk instability or return to short-term thinking.”
She said the next three years under her leadership and with fresh talent and energy in some senior council roles – a reference to chief executive Steph O’Sullivan and an experienced leader for the Cambridge Connections reset – promised strong performance and positive change for the community.
Susan O’Regan – a year into the job as mayor. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
O’Regan told The News she did not take the challenges from Pettit and St Pierre personally.
“That’s democracy. When you do put your hand up, people will stand against you. You have a right to a different point of view. They will have their perspectives on things.”
She noted that all major decisions during the term were made unanimously by the council, which she said reflected strong collective decision-making.
“I helped lead work that got the single largest piece of reform across the line. There are mayors up and down the country that would be gagging for that.”
Susan O’Regan with husband John Hayward on their Judge Valley Dairies farm.
She praised the work of council staff in establishing the Waikato Water Done Well council-controlled organisation (CCO), a collaboration between Waipā, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Ōtorohanga, South Waikato, and Waitomo district councils.
The council confirmed its involvement last week and also adopted the 2025-34 Long Term Plan which includes an average rates increase of 15.5 per cent in year one.
“It’s not something we take any delight in doing,” she said.
“I’m a ratepayer too and so are (most of) our staff.”
Once the two waters – drinking and waste – transition to the CCO, she said the financial picture would change.
“So much of the financial pressure as a tier-one growth council rests in that water space. We’re hoping this will relieve some pressure from our organisation.”
It was, she said in the statement, an affirming week for the district.
Waipā won a national award for Ahu Ake – the Waipā Community Spatial Plan.
“(I am) immensely proud of the council team for their exceptional work which saw us genuinely connecting with our communities in ways we had never done before. I’m humbled that we’ve achieved this under my leadership. We have a strong, innovative and appropriate plan for our future, and this can only be good for our district.”
See: Focus on …. Susan O’Regan
See: O’Regan’s win was down to business
Susan O’Regan is running for Waipa mayor a final time. Photo: Supplied
