Community was her greatest achievement
It’s not the mayoral chains that Jan Barnes regards as her greatest achievement – instead, it’s her time spent with the community.
Barnes dedicated 35 years to the Matamata community across a variety of community committees, as well as serving on the MatamataPiako District Council for 18 years.
Now her long-standing services to local government and the community have been recognised.
Barnes was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit as part of the New Year’s 2021 Honours List.
‘‘I feel very humbled. It’s a great honour to be recognised,’’ Barnes told Stuff.
‘‘Never in a million years’’ did she think she would receive the news that initially arrived by email. It wasn’t until the official letter arrived in the post did the news sink in.
‘‘I was a little shocked. You do think ‘is this for real’.’’
In 2013 Barnes was elected the first female mayor of the council, where she remained until 2019.
While she found the role humbling, it was no career standout.
‘‘I found that quite a challenge.
I’m a team player, and I was coerced for standing for Mayor,’’ Barnes said.
‘‘Leadership in itself is a challenge, you have to make some tough calls.
‘‘I was very humbled in the role, but it’s a huge challenge.
‘‘The staff at Matamata-Piako try so hard to carry out what governance has voted to do.’’
Instead, her highlights came from working with community volunteers and working ‘‘with my Nga¯ ti Haua¯ people’’.
‘‘It’s all about the people you work with, you never work on all these projects without being part of a team.
‘‘My family upbringing was – ‘where you can, you help out’.’’
Barnes was born in Te Poi. Her first job was as a school dental nurse and from here she made her mark in the community.
‘‘My role took me nationally and regionally and of course, engaging with people right throughout the country it certainly was, very much a big part of my role and being able to promote my district and get the very best for everybody.’’
Barnes was a member of Matamata Public Relations Association Committee from 1998 to 2013. In 2001, she became chairperson for the Matamata Community Board, before being asked by the then-Mayor to
For years Tokoroa’s been known as a timber town.
But with approximately 2500 visitors now venturing each month to the South Waikato town’s Cougar Mountainbike Park, it may be time for a re-brand.
The park off Mossop and Newell roads has more than 50km of trails catering for beginners through to Grade 5 advanced with potential to expand into an extra 300 hectares of the Hancock Forest Management forest it lies within.
Tokoroa Mountain Bike Club member Larry Sullivan, who oversees the upkeep and installation of the popular trails, said Tokoroa’s become the ‘go-to’ destination for many mountain bikers.
‘‘Most are coming from North Waikato and Bay of Plenty, and we hear of so many that this is their destination of choice over other parks,’’ he said.
‘‘I think it almost needs to become a signature for Tokoroa where ‘Tokoroa Home of Cougar Park’ becomes a bit of a catchphrase.
‘‘The tracks we have are world-class, there are less crowds, and we don’t have tree root problems like the [Rotorua] Redwoods do.
‘‘It’s amazing and draws in more people to the district than any other recreation.’’
Sullivan said professional promotion represent the Matamata Ward in 2004.
Between 2004 and 2007 Barnes was an inaugural Trustee and Chair of the Matamata Community Resource Centre and from 2008 to 2013 a trustee and chair of the Matamata Community Health Shuttle.
She was Co-Chair of the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) Rural Provincial Committee and Rural Zone representative to the was needed in order for the town to fully capitalise off of it.
‘‘It’s an area we need to work on because at the moment there is no State Highway 1 signage so it’s just relying on social media and word of mouth,’’ he said.
‘‘We would like to tap more into the Central North Island and make Tokoroa as important as Rotorua and Taupo¯ because it does offer something different to those places.’’
He said the park’s terrain was also making it popular with electric bike (e-bikes) users.
‘‘For the older crew dropping the golf clubs and grabbing an e-bike it just suits them perfectly,’’ he said. ‘‘Retailers can’t get enough stock.’’ Sullivan said although some of the trails will have to be rebuilt within the next few years, due to the park being within a working forest, money has been set aside.
‘‘We are losing a third of it to harvesting in 2024-2025 so we have worked with the South Waikato District Council to put some money away so we can put tracks straight back in,’’ he said.
‘‘I am proud of what we have done compared to the amount of money being poured into other mountain bike parks around the country.’’
‘‘Just come, tell your mates, and bring everybody. It is exciting.’’
LGNZ National Council Board. She has been a founding member of Matamata Apprentice Training Enterprise since 2004, a Patron of Matamata Menz Shed since 2013, chaired Matamata Centennial Committee from 2003 to 2004, Mill Crescent Kindergarten from 1985 to 1989 and a member of Firth Primary Fundraising Committee from 1989 to 1991.
‘‘It’s been a journey in life, and if everybody plays a part we can have fantastic communities.’’
Barnes now resides in Mt Maunganui ‘‘recharging her batteries’’.
She works part-time for a project management company and is enjoying time with her family.
‘‘Family plays a big part in the roles that I’ve had if you don’t have a supportive family it makes it that much harder. So I’m very blessed to have great support from my husband Rex and my family.’’
She’s now hoping more can be done to bring the Waikato and Bay of Plenty closer together.
‘‘I believe we could have a stronger voice in Wellington. We interact with our roading, infrastructure and the Port and I think there’s an opportunity there.’’
‘‘I feel very humbled. It’s a great honour to be recognised. I was a little shocked. You do think ‘is this for real’.’’ Jan Barnes