This reference material is provided as a guide to course participants and other aspiring rural leaders who wish to pursue elected office. It details the plans I made and the strategy used in seeking the mayoralty of the Waimate District. It also brings forward some discussion on reasoning for the strategy, and uses examples of other mayor's strategies to highlight differences and similarities. The experience of campaigning was one that I approached with a lot of trepidation, yet as it got into full swing, was one that I largely enjoyed. I found the feedback positive and encouraging, and enjoyed meeting a diverse range of people that I would not normally come into contact with. While it was written with the local government position in mind, a lot of the ideas and methods will carry successfully to the other rural elected positions, including groups like meat company directorships, fertilizer companies, representative groups like Meat and Wool NZ, and Federated Farmers. As a resource for planning only it offers alternatives and yet is comprehensive enough to be used as a stand alone map. [Show full abstract]

The New Zealand Kellogg Rural Leaders Programme develops emerging agribusiness leaders to help shape the future of New Zealand agribusiness and rural affairs. Lincoln University has been involved with this leaders programme since 1979 when it was launched with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, USA.