Noel Peterson is the "green wizard" of Bluff, a man with a reputation of championing environmental causes and bringing good cheer to community events.
But in recent years, Mr Peterson has taken a step back from his wizardly duties following a bitter local election defeat.
He garnered just 91 votes in his mayoral bid, less than half of 1% of total votes.
"Well after the election ... I actually became quite disappointed and whakamā and reclusive for quite some time," he said of the experience.
"And then about three, four months ago, I’d been going out a lot more. But I thought ‘you know, the community doesn’t really deserve a wizard’."
He felt Invercargill had rejected his message of taking care of the planet and feared the region was being run by people who only paid lip service to environmental issues.
He felt his message about the climate crisis had been overlooked.
"I do wish and hope that more people in the community realise that we need to change. That the world is changing and we need to change with it.
"We can’t just keep our sloven ways and carry on business as usual."
However, Mr Peterson had not hung up the robes for good.
The man who has called Southland home for about a decade said he would "always be a wizard".
The garb was worn less these days, as wizard-wear was both impractical and hot, and heatstroke had proven an issue in the past.
He had not ruled out standing in the next election, and said it was something he would like to do again.
• LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
