I love the title of this article ‘Serene exterior conceals mad paddling’.

Have a look at some media articles I’ve appeared in. The work I’ve done as Councillor, Mayor, tourism promoter and business development advisor. Marketing, promotion and working with media have been a life’s work!

Mayoral Term 2025-

RNZ – Mayoral Minutes with Jesse Mulligan

The Mayor looks at Books. Video Dunedin Library

mikes-minute-an-ode-to-dunedin – Mike Hosking raves about Dunedin!

Lets go on a Road Trip. RNZ with Mayor Sophie Barker

The Spinoff Profile – Sophie Barker haunted Dunedin’s Larnach Castle, now she’s running the city

Real Life with John Cowan -Mayor Sophie Barker talks about priorities

sophie-barker-makes-history-as-dunedins-second-female-mayor

ODT – its-me-barker-takes-mayoralty

RNZ – sophie-barker-confirmed-as-dunedin-s-next-mayor

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/13/sophie-barker-elected-dunedin-mayor

Mayoral Run 2025

The Mish Interview

https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/22/dunedins-mayor-confident-as-momentum-gathers-behind-former-deputy/

https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/07-08-2025/more-people-want-to-be-the-mayor-of-dunedin-than-anywhere-else-so-who-are-they

2022-2025

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/sophie-barker-resignationformer-dunedin-deputy-mayor-lays-second-complaint

Sophie Barker named Deputy Mayor – 14-10-22
ODT Editorial on Election 10-10-22
Mayor announces new Councillor roles

Mayoral Run 2022

Sophie rated top performing Councillor 2019-22
Sophie’s Opinion Piece on DCC ‘report card’ – Dec 21
ODT Hawkins Leadership style under attack – Aug 22
Fractured DCC Ugly Situation – ODT – March 22
90 minute Mayoral candidate interview. Sophie Barker and Pat Brittenden – Sept 22
Candidate 60 second pitches. ODT/Channel 39
Mayoral Debate – Channel 39/ODT
The Great Mayoral Debate – Business South
11 Mayoral candidates. – Stuff Sept 22. “Arguably Hawkins and Radich’s biggest rival for the mayoralty comes from a late entry to the race: Sophie Barker.”
The Mish , Hamish McNeilly – Mayoral Profiles – Aug 22
Residents Opinion Survey 2021
ODT coverage OUSA Mayoral Debate
Full list Council nominees
Potential Match Ups. Barker ‘Potential game changer’ ODT Aug 22
Barker joins Mayoralty Contest – Aug 22

The Council Years 2019-2022

Delving into debate about partnership – Aug 22
Councillors call to halt to Three Waters reform – July 22
Youth hangout seeks longer trial – July 22
DCC decision on debt today – June 22
Address requirement removed – June 22
Not a lolly scramble – DCC budget May 22
Historic Haunts. Sophie’s article for Down in Edin magazine – May 22
Misbehaving Councillors called to order – May 22
Councillor’s training – Sophie grasp of standing orders. May 22
Potential Hall loss sad for Dunedin – April 22
Three Waters Backtrack – March 22
Council Three Waters decision overturned – March 22
City joins Three Waters protest – March 22
Plan to divest rolling stock – Taieri Gorge Railway – Jan 22
Bus service shared issue – Jan 22
Poor appraisal of Council seen as spur to improve – Dec 21
Accusations Flow on Three Waters Debate Nov 21
Gorge line stays – Council keeps faith
The Dirt – Councillor Sophie Barker’s Garden Escape. Stuff Oct 21
Outside the box – theatre funding approved – Nov 21
Party line sniping by Councillors – Oct 21
Most of Dunedin Council vaccinated – Oct 21
Council’s funding refusal astounds, Sports Hall of Fame – Sept 21
Councillors take stand on ‘Lolly Scramble’ – June 21
Midwinter carnival to return in style – April 21
Call to keep trains running over winter – March 21
DCC calls for faster action on climate change – March 21
Deep reservations about water reforms – Feb 21
$1.5 billion spend plan hoists debt – Jan 21
Council throws Sports Hall of Fame lifeline – Dec 20
Council to consider $50k lifeline – Sports Hall Fame – Dec 20
New Heritage Fund Chair, Sophie – Oct 20
Tourism submission focus criticised – Oct 20
Concerns over visitor impact on wildlife – Sept 20
Project to paint penguins – Aug 20
Moteliers welcome support in school holidays – July 20
Octagon Trial not popular – June 20
Tough times for tourism – May 20
Time to emerge and reimagine. Sophie on tourism lockdown – May 20
Lockdown one on one with Sophie – ODT April 2020
Big queues for covid vaccine – April 20
Otago businesses face pain – March 20
Cruise ban will cause Dunedin pain – March 20
Council not commenting on Octagon closure – March 20
i-site bookings down during Octagon closure – Feb 20
Bookings down during Octagon trial – Feb 20
Biggest spenders elected – who spent what on campaigns -Dec 19
New Councillors already eyeing challenges – Oct 19
Council appointments made – Oct 19
Four new faces on Council – Oct 2019
Questions for DCC Candidates – Sept 19

Otago Peninsula Trust 2015-2020

Coverage ecotourism boost – June 20
Spreading the word about albatrosses – June 20
How NZ became the world’s albatross capital – June 20
Peninsula marketing focus likely to pivot – May 20
Not so little penguin – March 20
New guide offers nature rules – Dec 19
Tourism Conference Boost – March 19
Red billed gulls misunderstood – Feb 19
Talking to BBC re Red-billed gulls – Jan 19
Here are the women who make Dunedin Hum – Oct 18
Nine month waiting time really tough – March 18
Women appreciated with yellow roses – March 18
Peninsula Trust opens store in city for tours – Dec 17
Peninsula Trust to mark 50 years – Jan 17
TV – Channel 39 on new marketing role – Aug 15
Marketing role off to flying start – Aug 15
Trust appoints new marketing manager – August 2015

A bit of history – pre 2015, Larnach Castle etc

Half century of stewardship – Larnach Castle – Feb 17
A castle for keeps, Margaret Barker – Dec 14
Directors and executives graduate, Sophie and Inst of Directors – Dec 14
Better welcome urged for cruise passengers – Oct 14
Channel 39 – 2014 Business Development – and Russia trip
Cruise Ship season review – April 2014
Is Dunedin NZ’s real garden city? April 13
Retailers prepare for largest cruise ship season – Oct 2010
Discontinuity of care cause for concern. Neurosurgery. August 2010
Development unit boost for businesses – March 09
A sneaky snapshot of the Ritz – 2008
Campbell Live – 40 years at Larnach Castle. Sophie Interview 2007
21st birthday 1988 on TV’s South Tonight