Jonathan Larsen: A career built on service 

Jonathan Larsen’s recent election as Mayor of Kaipara District reflects a long-standing commitment to local government and community service. A proud Massey alumnus, Jonathan steps into the role after four terms as a district councillor, including his most recent term as Deputy Mayor. Together, those experiences made standing for mayor, as he puts it, “the logical next step.”

“I feel very honoured to be elected as Mayor of Kaipara District,” he says. “I have previously served four terms as a district councillor with the last term as Deputy Mayor, so standing for election as Mayor was the logical next step.”

Jonathan holds an Executive Master of Business Administration (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Science from Massey University, qualifications he continues to draw on in his leadership and governance work.

“I regularly draw on my learnings gained during the executive MBA. This spans from insights gained from team building, management and organisational behaviour components through to financial analysis,” he says. 

Jonathan initially worked in applied science, and has spent 26 years as a professional firefighter, trainer, and station officer. He has now served 11 years on the Kaipara District Council, bringing together frontline service and governance experience.

Alongside his council work, Jonathan brings commercial experience in farming, forestry, and land development, and is a chair-endorsed Resource Management Act Commissioner. Environmental protection is also personal. He is currently protecting 36 hectares of mature and regenerating native forest at Mangawhai, with stock exclusion and ongoing pest control.

Looking ahead, Jonathan is focused on guiding the district through a period of significant reform.

“The local government sector faces large changes through central government-driven legislative reform over the coming years,” he explains. 

“My main priorities will be optimising the district’s position and opportunities through these reforms, improving efficiency of rates-funded expenditure, and delivering great community projects for the benefit of the ratepayers.”

What motivates Jonathan most is the people he serves.

“As a smaller district, we have a really great volunteer spirit. Our locals go the extra mile to help make our local towns great places to live. I am motivated by making improvements to service delivery for our ratepayers and delivering community projects that are enjoyed by both locals and visitors.”

For Massey alumni considering governance or leadership roles in their own communities, Jonathan’s advice is straightforward.

“Serving on local government is a great opportunity to contribute to the direction of your local area and, at the same time, gain board and governance experience.”  

He adds, “Getting elected isn’t easy, but if graduates have a passion for serving and leading, I say go for it!”