14 Facts About Rachel Reese

Rachel Reese was the mayor of Nelson from 2013 to 2022.

Rachel Reese attended St Hilda's Collegiate School, leaving at aged 16 to enter the University of Otago from where she graduated with a commerce degree at age 19.

Rachel Reese has Graduate Diploma in Business Studies from Massey University and is a qualified Mediator and Arbitrator.

Rachel Reese has worked in Mount Isa and Melbourne in Australia, as well as in Auckland.

Rachel Reese moved to Nelson in about 1997, her family having connections in the area, with her parents owning property on Arapaoa Island in the Marlborough Sounds.

Rachel Reese ran a Resource Management Consultancy in Nelson for 15 years prior to entering politics.

Rachel Reese was first elected to the Nelson City Council in 2007.

Rachel Reese was again elected in 2010 when she became deputy mayor, losing the mayoral race to Aldo Miccio with 4722 votes to his 6077.

In 2016 Rachel Reese was elected onto the Local Government New Zealand national council and in June 2017 was nominated for the role of President following the announcement that current President, Lawrence Yule, was standing down.

Rachel Reese is Deputy of the Regional Sector and her Central Government appointments have included the Rules Reduction Taskforce, the Local Government RM Advisory Group and the Working Group on Representation, Governance and Accountability of new Water Services Entities.

In 2018 Rachel Reese was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club of Nelson for her contribution as a community leader.

November 2018 Mayor Rachel Reese hosted a celebration of current and former women elected members of Nelson City and Tasman District councils in honour of the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand and to mark the publication of a booklet titled 'Women Decision-Makers Nelson and Tasman' documenting the experiences of 52 women on local government from 1944 to 2018.

October 2019 Rachel Reese won her third term as Mayor against a crowded field of contenders including former Nelson MP Mel Courtney and current councillors Bill Dahlberg and Tim Skinner.

Rachel Reese married her long-time partner, English-born former cricketer Richard Harden, in January 2017.