Toss the Boss 2017 - Mayor Dave Cull

Dave Cull was born in Invercargill in 1950 and attended Southland Boys’ High School before moving to Dunedin. He completed a BA in Political Science at the University of Otago.

Dave had an extensive career in the media, including television presenting, and has published a number of books.

He successfully stood for the Dunedin City Council in 2007 and has been Mayor of the city since 2010. Since becoming Mayor, Dave has led change and improvement of the profit-generating companies Council owns on behalf of ratepayers, and introduced more rigorous processes, efficiency and transparency – all leading to reduced debt and modest rates rises.

Mayor Cull is focused on both economic and environmental sustainability as Dunedin realises its vision of being one of the world's great small cities.

Under his leadership, Dunedin has become a more outward looking city with ever-strengthening international relationships providing profitable educational and business links. Dunedin is also presenting its thriving creative sector to the world through its UNESCO Creative City of Literature status, and has been increasingly conscious of responding to 21st century challenges such as climate change.

Mayor Cull is chair of the Metro sector group and Vice-president of Local Government New Zealand. His foci are the importance of local government leading improvement and reform of the sector.

Help Mayor Cull raise funds for the Malcam Charitable Trust