A Massey alumna leading her hometown

Peri Zee has long called Upper Hutt home. Born in the Wairarapa, she moved to Upper Hutt when she was just a few weeks old and has grown up in the city ever since. She attended St Joseph’s School and Maidstone Intermediate, building strong ties to the community over the years. Today, she still lives in the community that has elected her as Mayor.

At just 33, Peri brings both deep local connections and a strong professional background to the role. She holds a Bachelor of Business Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Planning, Land Use Planning and Management/Development from Massey University. She has spent much of her career advising local government, iwi and social enterprises across Aotearoa on strategic planning, project management and government relations.

Stepping into the mayoralty is both exciting and humbling, she says.

“It’s a surreal experience ‘becoming’ a Mayor – it’s both a process of the role shaping me, as well as me shaping the role. I have worked in local government most of my career and I believe in the power of local government to make communities’ lives better.”

Peri’s leadership journey was shaped early by opportunity and determination. A $5,000 scholarship enabled the then 18-year-old to begin her studies at Massey. While studying, she also worked at her local swimming pool, saving carefully for her next goal.

At 19, those savings took her overseas. Peri spent a year studying at university in Amsterdam, with three months of travel on either side. This overseas experience broadened her worldview and strengthened her confidence.

Looking back, she says Massey played a big part in setting her up for what came next.

“I was fortunate to receive a Leadership Scholarship into the Massey University Business School,” she says. “It opened up opportunities I never would have expected, from spending a week with the Navy to going on exchange in Amsterdam. Studying business and politics has been incredibly useful throughout my career, and especially now as Mayor." 

As Mayor, Peri is focused on unlocking Upper Hutt’s potential and shaping a future that works for families.

“Upper Hutt has huge potential. My goal is to make our city the best in the region to raise a family. That means developing family-friendly infrastructure, including redeveloping our city centre.”

What keeps her motivated is the closeness of the community itself.

“Our community is like a village. We are all connected in one way or another. I’m motivated by improving our city for our tamariki, ensuring intergenerational fairness and ensuring we don’t burden them with our mistakes.”

For fellow Massey alumni who are considering stepping into leadership roles in their own communities, Peri shares her advice: “As the youngest female sitting Mayor, I would say: ignore the naysayers and chart your own path.”