Voices of the Clutha District

Episode 11: Mayor Jock MartinIn this episode, we’re joined by Clutha District Mayor and localbusinessman, Jock Martin.Born and bred in Waitahuna, Jock shares his journey through the woolhandlingindustry, reflecting on 44 years of experience and the lessons learned alongthe way. He also talks about meeting his wife and the supportive role she’s played in his life.We dive into what led Jock to step into the role of Mayor, the challengesthat come with it, and the opportunities he sees for the district. From councilpriorities to exciting developments in the region, this is a great insight intoboth the man behind the title and the future of Clutha.

Episode 10 features Clinton local Lynley Daly. From farmingto running River Ridge Retreat in The Catlins and recently taking full ownership of Crossroads Clinton, Lynley is a woman with plenty on her plate and a real passion for her community.We chat about what her day-to-day looks like, the visionbehind River Ridge Retreat, and how she’s connecting Crossroads Clinton to the community.Lynley also shares her thoughts on living and working in the Clutha District, plus her must-visit spots for anyone exploring Clutha and The Catlins.If this episode leaves you inspired, pop in for a coffee atCrossroads (the machine’s always on!) or book a weekend escape at River Ridge Retreat.

Episode 9 shares a focus on one of our destination activities in the Clutha District. We are joined by Murray Paterson, one of the leaders behind the development of the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail. Murray is a born and bred local to Lawrence and his dedication and countless volunteer hours have been instrumental in making the trail what it is today. He shares the story behind the creation, development and completion as well as the many highlights of the trail.  

Gill Crawford from Whanau Manaaki Kindergartens joins us in Episode 8 to chat about her history with kindergartens, what early childhood education looks like in the Clutha District, how families can be involved and the future opportunities for growth.

In Episode 7 we sit down with Joyce Beck, a pillar of the Kaitangata community. Joyce has dedicated her life to the community and given thousands of volunteer hours to creating a better Kaitangata for future generations. She shares her passion for conserving history as an author, volunteer and former Principal of the local primary school, as well as the recent projects she has been dedicating her time to.

Join us in Episode 6 where we sit down with Jess Weichler. Jess shares insights into her work with the Clutha Foundation, as well as her love for uncovering hidden gems and local history. We chat about what makes community connections so powerful, the flexibility of working across the district, and what the New Zealand lifestyle means to her.

Join us for the long awaited Episode 5. After some technical difficulties we are delighted to welcome Marty Hurring to our podcast chair to hear about his wealth of experience in rugby across NZ and the world, what growing up in Balclutha looked like and why he returned and where he spends his valuable spare time.

Join us in Episode 4 where we get to know Dan Cragg from VetSouth. Dan is a passionate community member who gives back through his work, voluntary service with the local fire brigade and his family. We discuss everything from where to visit if family come to stay, what working for VetSouth is like and what being a member of the Clutha Development Executive Committee means to him.

In our third episode we sit down with Anna Benny, a passionate and engaged member of the Clutha District. We talk about what brought her to the District, why she chose to stay and what it is like bringing up a family here, all alongside her full time job and volunteering for the local Surf Lifesaving club.

In this episode of Voices of the Clutha District we talk to Josh Hurring who works for Mike Hurring Logging and shares his vast experience in the Forestry industry with us as well as snippets of what growing up in the Clutha District looked like.

In our first episode of Voices of the Clutha District we sit down with Mayor Bryan Cadogan to hear about his history across the District, what he sees for the future and where he would spend his free time.Note: As at 11 October 2025, Bryan Cadogan is no longer the Mayor of the Clutha District. This episode was recorded and released while he was still in office.