Wanganui mayor Michael Laws is taking indefinite leave today after his three year-old daughter Lucy was flown to Starship Hospital.
In a written release Mr Laws said his daughter was "very unwell" and he and his wife Leo needed to spend as much time as they could withher.
"We have three other children to care for as well, so I'm sure people will understand that the family takes precedence at the moment," Mr Laws said.
Deputy Dot McKinnon will become acting mayor from 5pm today and Councillor Ray Stevens will become acting deputy mayor.
Mr Laws is keeping his RadioLive slot for now.
Programming director Mitch Harris said Mr Laws was on his way to Auckland and would be on air tomorrow.
"We've just said to him, you don't have to, just as you see fit. I know what it's like. I've had a daughter in intensive care and you can't be up there 24 hours a day. He said he's going to carry on and do his shift this week but we're just taking it day by day," Mr Harris said.
