Issue 1,206
Local News for Local Communities
Friday 17th October 2025
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Art Week Awards Night Page 2
Springfield Hotel Reopens Page 6
Gardening & Landscaping Feature Pages 9-13
A NEW CHAPTER FOR SELWYN Lydia Gliddon says she feels “incredibly honoured and humbled” to be elected as Selwyn’s new Mayor — and she’s clear about the message she believes voters have sent: they want open, accountable leadership and a Council that listens. Her promise is simple and emphatic: to put people first. “The real work begins now. We will continue building a Selwyn that’s connected, thriving, and prepared for the future, one where every voice counts and every community is part of the journey,” she said. Lydia has begun her term by thanking the people of Selwyn for their trust, honesty, and belief that things can be done differently. “This wasn't mine to win as an individual, this was ours — from my team to our community. I am overwhelmed with support.” She intends to honour that trust daily, maintaining a strong public presence both online and through local media, and working closely with residents’ associations and community groups to keep decision-making transparent and participatory.
Her first year will focus on three priorities: restoring transparency and communication between the council and the community, delivering fiscal responsibility by getting back to basics and cutting waste, and empowering councillors and staff to work effectively together for Selwyn’s people. The first 100 days, she says, will be about resetting Council culture, reviewing departmental spending, and beginning genuine community engagement — “I want open conversations, not closed doors.” Family support has been central to her journey, and there’s a sense of relief that the campaign has concluded. Away from Council chambers, Lydia is happiest when she’s hands-on — fixing something on the farm, pitching in at a local planting day — and she’s quietly proud of owning the entire Footrot Flats book collection. What she loves most about Selwyn is no secret: its people and its wide-open spaces, from rural heartlands and mountains
New Selwyn Mayor Lydia Gliddon with husband Matt and daughter Hazel. to fast-growing towns where, as she puts it, “people roll up their sleeves and make things happen.” Lydia’s election marks a significant shift in leadership for one of New Zealand’s
fastest-growing regions. It follows a line of Selwyn mayors beginning with Ann Hurford of Hororata (1989– 1992), followed by the late Bill Woods (1992–1995).
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