The Great New Zealand Road Trip: The former West Coast mayor donating his pension to bolster his beloved community

The NZ Herald and editor-at-large Shayne Currie are on a two-week road trip to gauge the temper of the nation and meet on a regular basis and notable Kiwis making a distinction of their communities and the broader world. At the moment he uncovers Kiwi cinematic treasure – the main yellow Mini from the original Goodbye Pork Pie film hidden in a South Island storage unit – and we catch up with one of the South Island’s leading chief executives for Nine Questions. Senior reporter Anna Leask, in the meantime, speaks with a well-known West Coaster.

His best-known function was that of mayor, group protector and supporter of Greymouth within the tragic wake of the Pike River mine catastrophe.

However that’s simply certainly one of many hats Tony Kokshoorn has worn through the years.

He’s a profitable businessman, helped to lift upward of $30 million for numerous native charities and, even in his retirement, he works day-after-day to higher and bolster the group he adores.

Born and bred on the West Coast – beginning life in Lake Brunner and relocating together with his household to Greymouth when he was 5 – there’s nowhere else he would ever wish to or consider dwelling.

Kokshoorn served in native authorities for 21 years, as a councillor after which mayor for 15 years at Gray District Council.

“I used to be at all times type of politically acutely aware and motivated – it was simply my upbringing that did that, my mom was a life member of the Labour Get together … a staunch member,” he mentioned.

“So I at all times had that affiliation with some kind of politics, and what occurred was I used to be the chair of an organization that the native council right here began known as Central Western Companies, which was primarily the works models that each one the councils owned and for contract and all that stuff.

“And within the very first yr, we made an enormous revenue and since we made the large revenue, they may solely see it then as a sellable merchandise they usually offered it off – and that irritated me a lot, I assumed, effectively, I’ve acquired to get on to council and try to change the best way they do issues.”

When not firmly ensconced in council duties, Kokshoorn was devoted to serving to the group in different methods: serving to charities increase hundreds of thousands of {dollars} a yr, typically at his personal expense in journey time and assets.

“We’re very close-knit, the individuals right here on the West Coast and all of us look out for one another’s again and we’re introduced up that approach.

“I used to be introduced up in a Christian family, the place doing issues for others was actually taught to us, in order that type of led me on to be very community-minded and that took me into charity work.”

Kokshoorn’s ardour for his residence was additionally an enormous motivator for all of his actions, whether or not in enterprise, politics or giving again.

“If you’re born on the West Coast, it doesn’t matter the place you go on to, your coronary heart stays on the West Coast.

“It’s due to the isolation that the West Coast … we’re outlined by this nice mountain vary that runs by the South Island and that creates a particular group and a particular ardour for the place.

“That’s what you see in Coasters – we’re actually happy with our id right here.”

Kokshoorn, now 68, made the decision to step away from politics in 2018 to dedicate extra time to his household and has not had a second of remorse.

“I used to be by no means challenged as mayor however I ended at a degree after 15 years and thought, ‘OK, who’s gonna be round once I lastly die? Who’s going to bury me?’

“And my reply to myself was, ‘My household, and never the politicians I met 30 years prior’.

“So I decided that fairly than be half-hearted in my household as a result of I used to be so busy in politics and within the companies, I’d make a extremely tangible effort to be household particular person as a result of I had grandkids coming alongside.

“I’ve by no means regretted that call … I imply, I missed the limelight initially, however I knew I needed to make that adjustment.

“And I feel that’s the lesson for everybody in life – change is inevitable. Don’t be scared to make the transfer within the different route.”

Kokshoorn continues to be actively concerned with a number of charities however his life is way quieter nowadays, and the West Coast is one of the best place for his new each day tempo.

“I simply love the lifestyle right here, it’s just like the West Coast gives a lifestyle that’s most likely stress-free by default.

“You haven’t acquired the site visitors jams and the mad rush and the expectations and the huge variations in housing costs … you’re not endlessly chasing that financial or materials aim.

“Right here, there’s solely a lot you’ll be able to have and we have a tendency to understand the surroundings extra.”

He revealed that every week he donates his pension cost to charity – he doesn’t want the cash and sees first-hand that others do.

Shayne Currie is travelling the nation on the Herald’s Nice New Zealand Highway Journey. Read the full series here.

“It offers me a whole lot of satisfaction – I perceive there are lots of folks that want that pension however I’m in a pleasant place the place I can try this … I’ve been very fortunate.

“I feel if I look again on my life of fifty years working, the truth that I went and was self-employed from 20 years onwards was extraordinarily rewarding.

“However what trumps that’s the charitable work I did, there’s no query about it … And that’s as a result of there’s nothing higher than serving to different individuals.”

Kokshoorn has excessive hopes for the way forward for his beloved West Coast.

“I’m proud that we now have, over a protracted interval, been going by a painful transition from extractive industries to sustainability.

“We’re on the expansion path once more.”

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He urges different Kiwis to get out and about of their group, to search out the time to play their half and make an affect.

“It’s straightforward to suppose to your self day-after-day, ‘If I get spare time, I’ll exit and I’ll be part of an organisation that’s immersed locally’ or ‘I’ll go and assist locally’.

“Don’t give it some thought – do it … and when you see the aim of doing it you’ll reap the rewards.

“They gained’t be financial however you don’t want financial rewards to be blissful … it’s extra rewarding to be an integral a part of your group.”