Mayor suffers ‘mini stroke’

Nobby Clark. Photo: file
Nobby Clark. Photo: file
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark is recovering at home after a minor stroke at the weekend, his deputy says.

Deputy mayor Tom Campbell said he spoke to Mr Clark yesterday and the mayor was in "good spirits".

"He’s in good spirits, but he understands the seriousness of having a stroke, whether it’s minor or not, so he’s going to be looking after himself," Mr Campbell said.

"The doctors have told him to avoid stress and to take it a bit easier, so that’s what he means to do."

Doctors kept him in hospital for two nights, "did a battery of tests on him" and said he probably suffered a "mini stroke".

Mr Campbell said the mayor would take this week off work.

Next week, he would take about half the mayor’s appointments, while Mr Clark took care of the other half, Mr Campbell said.

After that, Mr Clark would "reassess".

"But he’ll carry on in the role."

There were only three months to go in the triennium and nothing that was very significant was coming up before the election.

"So I would say that we’ll carry on like that.

"Nobby will just do what he needs to do as mayor, and he’ll delegate [the rest]."

Mr Clark had heart surgery after a heart attack about 18 months ago.

Last month, he ruled out another term, saying he would be "fully into retirement" at the end of this term.

hamish.maclean@odt.co.nz