Mayor, Waipā District Council

Born and raised in the Waikato, Susan O’Regan comes from a family deeply rooted in both farming and public service. She holds degrees in Law and Political Science from the University of Otago. Her early career included working in the Beehive as a Ministerial Assistant, followed by a successful legal practice as a specialist in family law in both Auckland and the Waikato, where she went on to establish her own chambers in Te Awamutu.

In 2010, Susan transitioned from law to focus on farming and family life, joining her husband John Hayward on their 240-hectare dairy farm in Puahue. Together, they developed Judge Valley Dairies into a nationally recognised exemplar of sustainable farming, winning the Waikato Supreme Award at the 2016 Ballance Farm Environment Awards and achieving top honours in the Dairy Business of the Year awards.

Susan brings extensive governance experience to her role as Mayor of Waipā District, having served two terms as a councillor before being elected Mayor in 2022. She is a strong advocate for rural communities, regional collaboration, and sustainable development. Susan plays a key leadership role in regional initiatives such as Waikato Water Done Well and the Future Proof partnership, which unites iwi, local authorities, and central government agencies. She also serves on the Electoral Reform Working Group, is a Crown appointee to the Waikato River Authority, and a trustee of Sport Waikato.

Susan is committed to making decisions today that will shape a resilient and thriving future for generations to come. She and John have a blended family of five children. Outside her public duties, Susan enjoys gardening, reading, cooking, and following political affairs.