From the Pike River Mine tragedy to dealing with a struggling economy, Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn has been at the coal-face for his town for 15 years.
But he's decided not to stand for mayor again and is looking forward to retirement on the Coast in just a couple of days time.
- Emotional scenes as victims' family members escorted into Pike River Mine
- Local body leader at the forefront of Pike River Mine tragedy on his retirement
Carrying out one of his last orders of business, Koksboorn welcomed Greymouth's newest citizens to town as he prepares to depart.
Kokshoorn was elected Mayor in 2004 and has stood unopposed in four elections. But it was the Pike River Mine Disaster that's defined his time the most.
He was at home with his wife when he took the call that would change the town forever.
"She said 'what's wrong', I says 'it's blown its top' and she looked at me," he told Newshub.
"I just dropped the phone and went straight up there… and from that point on for the next five days, it was really serialised and you saw it on TV."
Kokshoorn was thrust into the global spotlight in the aftermath of the tragedy.
"From my point of view it was gut-wrenching but I knew I had to front up, put a brave face on and represent the people of the West Coast," he says.
Pike took its toll, and so too did the economy. Solid Energy folded, and hundreds lost their jobs. The local economy has been struggling to recover ever since.
But after a tough decade, things are finally on the up. Local tourism is thriving as visitors discover the gems of the South Island's West Coast.
"We have turned a corner, it has been a painful transition but we're on our journey," he says.
Now, with over twenty years as a community leader and not one sick day on record, the end is in sight.
"Just over a week to go now and I can see that door open and funnily enough I want to go through it," he says.
Kokshoorn - passionate, and proud - a true West Coaster.
Newshub.
