Subj : Invercargill mayor gears up for return after heart attack
To   : All
From : News Person
Date : Sat Feb 24 2024 01:36 pm

By Matthew Rosenberg , Local Democracy Reporting
Friday 7:47pm

When Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark experienced back pain for a couple of
days around Christmas, he thought he had Covid.


It wasn't until he felt a tingling sensation in his arm and took himself to
hospital that he discovered the diagnosis was actually much worse - he'd
suffered a heart attack.


Eight weeks on, Clark is gearing up to make his return to the council
chambers, albeit a bit worse for wear and a few kilograms lighter.


"[I'm] maybe two or three weeks from being back at work. [I] still have low
levels of energy and have lost about 12kg since the day of the operation,"
Clark told Local Democracy Reporting.


"I've got really skinny legs now, skinny arms. I've lost a bit of muscle mass
because I haven't been doing too much exercising."


Clark was an open book in detailing the life-changing medical event he's just
lived through.


Originally diagnosed with a minor heart attack in Invercargill, he was then
taken to Dunedin by ambulance where he was told the situation was worse than
first thought.


Loaded with blood thinners
The options were simple: a lifetime of medication or open heart surgery,
which would also require a lifetime of medication.


Clark opted for the latter, but had to wait a further six days due to being
loaded with blood thinners on the back of his first hospital visit in
Invercargill.


"People have told me the surgery is like being run over by a bus. I think
that's an understatement, but never mind," he said.


The recovery had been slow, but Clark was just taking it one day at a time.


Looking back, he was frank about the extra stress he took on board after
assuming office in 2022, and the potential role that played.


His usual routine of biking and running around five to six times a week went
out the window as the workload began to mount.


'I've got to learn to say no'
He reflected: "You get called out, you go to meetings at night time. You can
easily start the job at 8 o'clock in the morning and finish at 10 o'clock at
night. I've just got to learn to say no to a few people. Or delegate a few
more out.


"You're not good to anybody if you're in the grave."


Realistically, that was where Clark could have ended up. But getting a second
chance at life has also given him a fresh perspective.


He said he was now more appreciative for what he had, and focused on what
actually mattered.


"I don't need to be the champion of every cause, because with that comes long
hours at work and stress."


There have also been fresh perspectives from unexpected places.


Following his heart attack, people who had been through similar procedures
reached out and shared their experience which gave the mayor some hope.


"A major majority have said `look, I'm fitter now than when I had the heart
attack. It's been really good for me'."


"I've got that to look forward to."


A potted history in office
Clark was elected mayor of Invercargill in 2022, beating his closest rival by
almost 3000 votes.


He has been a vocal voice at the council table since first entering as a
councillor in 2019 - a position he secured with the highest number of votes
that year.


Known for backing the ratepayer and pushing for a new museum build, he has
also netted his fair share of controversy.


He served as deputy mayor under Sir Tim Shadbolt with the pairs' breakdown in
communication well-documented.


In March 2023, he drew criticism for saying the 'n-word' a number of times
during a television interview in which he defended his use of the word
earlier in the week.


During a June 2023 speech at an anti-co-governance meeting, Clark said he
opposed having mana whenua representatives at the council.


Is it time to go?
Asked this week whether he considered finishing up as mayor following the
medical event, Clark said he had unfinished business.


"I was always going to come back.

"I do not give up."


LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A44 2020/02/04 (Windows/64)
 * Origin: S.W.A.T.S BBS Telnet swatsbbs.ddns.net:2323 (63:10/102)

.