Former Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell reflects on the past four months since he resigned. Photo / George Novak
Tenby Powell is a man reborn.
The former Tauranga mayor has come out of the maelstrom that was the city council in 2020 with a reinvigorated zest for life, renewed appetite for business and the firm ambition of never entering local government again.
It has been four months since Powell sparked chaos in the council chambers by resigning as mayor and calling for commissioners to be brought in. Just days later he underwent surgery for cancer.
Now, the "huge" tumour that took over 55 per cent of Powell's prostate has been removed and his PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood levels are looking good, for the meantime. It appears not much has slowed the 60-year-old down since.
Powell has ridden his Indian motorbike around the South Island, gone hunting off the grid, surfed behind a boat at Lake Rotoiti and grown a beard. The latter appears to be a visual reminder of the businessman-turned-politician experiencing life again on his terms.
Why the beard?
"Because I can," Powell says.
Powell sits in Wharf St's newly-established dining precinct and smiles at the hustle and bustle of restaurants setting up for the day, people getting coffees and others holding meetings.
He doesn't dispute the suggestion that he's essentially living a version of his best life right now.
"I'm great. I've managed to get really fit over the summer which was needed for this last week [hunting in remote South Island]."
Powell says his cancer diagnosis highlighted to him how easy it was to overlook personal health. Gradually, incremental pain became the norm when it shouldn't have, he says.
"It seems to be the thing that lapses, everything else becomes more important than health and fitness. We need to change that."
Powell's shock departure from the council, and his cancer revelation, appear to have prompted a wave of kindness from strangers – some offering him hugs in the street and others advice for tackling his diagnosis. In one example, a man offered Powell a year's worth of selenium tablets due to their health benefits, which was gratefully accepted.
"It is so overwhelming, just the 'how are you going?', 'Are you doing this, doing that?'. It's lovely but I can't reply to it all, there's not enough hours in the day.
"I was out for dinner the other day and there was a lady who asked me 'are you Tenby Powell' and I thought 'uh oh' and said 'yes'. She came up and just grabbed me and said 'thank you for what you've done for the city'.
"This happens regularly, not a week goes by where I don't get a hug from someone saying 'thank you'."
Powell's thoughts on his fellow elected members, the bitter unravelling of the council and the need for commissioners are already well known. If anything, the past few months and interactions from those people in the street have only galvanised his view.
"In my heart, I know I made the right call.
"The city is decades behind where it should be. It's just unbelievable. No one wants a 20 to 22 per cent rates rise. In my view, had it happened incrementally over the last 15 years, we would not be in this position."
Powell recounts the week of his resignation and says it was probably his lowest point. When asked if he took any responsibility for the council's downfall, Powell conceded there were moments he regretted "but I was deeply frustrated".
"Yes, I got angry. I wish I hadn't but I did.
"I would never, ever go back to local government. I have absolutely no interest whatsoever."
The first two months after Powell's political departure was "a bit of a blur, post-operation" but he began to bounce back after six to eight weeks.
Rather than easing back into things, Powell jumped back into action "way too early" by attempting to surf waves with his children behind a boat at Lake Rotoiti. He grimaces at the memory and says he suffers from "serious FOMO" (Fear of Missing Out).
"It was great to have us all together."
Not long afterwards, Powell - emboldened by recovery - embarked on a solo ride around the South Island on his Indian motorbike. He hadn't anticipated the freezing cold and torrential rain.
Powell rode from Hokitika to Queenstown and admits it became "the most mentally and physically challenging ride I've ever done". When he arrived in Wanaka, he was soaked but the sun had come out.
Powell also spent time off-the-grid on D'Urville Island and in Central Otago.
Next month, he'll "go bush" again when he will do four or five trails back to back "to really lose myself, while not doing anything stupid".
"I love that sort of stuff. I love the bush and being out there to muck around and meditate."
Powell describes wife Sharon as "amazing".
"She's been really positive and because she's used to me being in the army she's used to me being away for periods of time."
Sharon has also adapted to her husband growing a beard, affectionately named by the couple as Cornelius, which at one point grew to twice the size it is today.
Powell is yet to need radiotherapy, due to the good fortune of low PSA levels for now, but he is mindful this could all change in the future.
"I'm trying to have this year off, hence disappearing in the bush, but I'm constantly talking to people about directorships, investment and business acquisitions. It's great. I feel really buoyed by it."
Powell likened his return to the business world as "like going home".
"I've never experienced anything so negative as the last 12 months and for a lot of entrepreneurial start-ups it's not about making money, it's about doing better for the world, most of them.
"No matter what's going to happen with the city and the commissioners, at the end of the day, it was the right decision for the city.
"I'm really positive looking forward."