Zombie Towns: Everything I Missed

Tokoroa (Part 3)

2026-11-01

In this final episode, Shamubeel brings together all the things he learned about how struggling towns can get their mojo back. That involves 'playing to your strengths' - often the things a small town has that big cities lack - but also something that economists don't normally measure: community, self-reliance and a can-do attitude.

In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:

Eva Hakansson - business innovator who relocated to Tokoroa from Auckland because costs were cheaperBill - husband of Eva, as aboveGary Petley - mayor of South WaikatoRaymond Lincoln - founder of logistics businessWarwick Batley - engineering business owner and innovatorMaria Te Kanawa - deputy mayor of South Waikato and CEO of Raukawa iwi businessBryan Cadogan - former three-term mayor of South OtagoBill de la Mare - business executive who chooses to live in a small townEvan Dick - Kaitangata farmer and community leaderApii Solomon - Tokoroa school teacher and proud member of the Cook Islands communityJulius Daniels - Tokoroa YMCAJoyce Beck - Kaitangata community stalwart

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

No. of episodes

8

Latest episode

2026-11-01

Where can you listen?

Economist Shamubeel ‘zombie towns’ Eaqub travels to Balclutha and Tokoroa to find out what’s really going on in heartland New Zealand, analysing how struggling communities regain their financial mojo.