You will not find another mayor in New Zealand like Ash Tanner.
By Jordan Smith of Local Democracy Reporting
Not many, if any, receive their own coffin as a birthday present. Even fewer can boast about building their own motorbike, and with the number of tattoos hovering around 100, the list whittles down to one.
Then there’s the politics, an arena the Matamata-Piako mayor operates in with an unapologetically honest, call-it-how-it-is demeanour.
Sporting a relatively fresh-shaved head after a child cancer fund-raiser at Te Aroha college, the "maverick mayor" offered Local Democracy Reporting a glimpse into what makes him tick.
Starting as a Te Aroha ward councillor 13 years ago after his eldest son said he “keeps moaning” about council, the now 61-year-old said his “no nonsense, straight up approach” helped secure the mayoral seat in 2019.
“I might not always make the right decision. I might say something that offends someone but I’m reflecting what the people are telling me... it’s as simple as that,” Tanner said.
After his first term, Tanner, a panel-beater for 30-odd years, stood down to focus on revitalising his business which, like many, struggled during Covid-19.
The itch never waned however, and Tanner was re-elected in 2025, selling the business in the process to avoid burning the candle at both ends.
“I take [the mayoralty] as a privilege because people trust you with their vote so they want you to deliver so I’ve got to give 100%, which I guess I always did but now without any white noise.”
The Ash Tanner away from council chambers is equally as unique, recalling the story of his wife gifting him his own coffin on his 50th birthday.
“I’ve painted it HSTV [armoured vehicle] green and put the Triumph motorcycle logo on it,” he said.
“Some people say ‘oh that’s pretty heavy’... ‘is that an indication she wants you to hurry up or something’... but I say to them ‘if you’ve got a spare tyre in the back of your car, you never have to use it, do you’?
“And that’s what I’m thinking, when it inevitably does happen, you’re ready to go.”
The dedicated husband, father and grandfather also has his wife’s tattooed portrait adorning his arm.
It helps make up the full contingent of the mayor’s ink collection, spanning two full leg and arm sleeves as well as his back.
“I would have got my first tattoo when you didn’t see them hardly at all. It’s pretty hard to get one tattoo so one turned into 100 probably,” Tanner says.
He recalled inking the Hauraki District Council logo onto fellow mayor Toby Adams in 2020, a special moment shared between the two.
“It was really nerve-racking when you’ve never been filmed [but] it means a lot to us... because he’s dedicated to his area too. We’re proud to be representing our community.”
Asked if he, Adams and Thames-Coromandel mayor Peter Revell would get matching ink for their looming amalgamation merger, Tanner chuckled, adding they’ll have to ask the Thames-Coromandel incumbent.
Along with the home-built Harley Davidson Chopper motorcycle complete with an engine from 1965, a Holden Commodore SSZ V8 as well as a 1972 Triumph Tiger help make up the Tanner’s impressive vehicle collection.
“A couple of years ago [we] managed to get another Holden V8... my wife in particular loves the V8s. I grew up in the era and we were always on motorbikes and old classics,” Tanner added.
Tanner has been more than outspoken about his frustrations with “red tape and bureaucracy”, imploring Government to get back to “common sense”.
“We’re so hamstrung it isn’t even funny. There seems to be more reasons why you can’t do something than you can.”
Examples are plentiful – 2023 saw Tanner and the community painting the Te Aroha bridge for $20,000 instead of the $500,000 quote from NZTA to replacing speed signs out of his own pocket, the mayor implored the people advising Government to “just stop”.
“I’d love to have a few beers with them [local government and RMA ministers Simon Watts and Chris Bishop]... they’re good people but I think they’re getting bad advice from someone,” Tanner said when asked.
Self-described as “public property” in a job that can be all consuming, connecting with family and ensuring the cup stays full remain Tanner’s top priority.
“I’m most proud of my family. I’ve got three grandkids and they melt Poppa’s heart.
“It means a lot to me and balancing that time to spend with them and friends is the most important thing.”
– Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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