Tamah Alley

Tamah Alley ( ; born 1985) is a New Zealand local body politician who became the first female Mayor of Central Otago in late October 2024, succeeding the outgoing Tim Cadogan.

Local government career By October 2024, Alley had served for two terms as a councillor for the Vincent Ward in the Central Otago District Council (CODC).

She also served as chair of Local Government New Zealand's Zone 6, which covers all local government councils south of Waitaki.

Mayor of Central Otago, 2024–present Following the resignation of the incumbent Mayor Tim Cadogan in late October 2024, Alley was appointed as the next Mayor during a full council meeting in Alexandra on 30 October. In late November 2024, Alley and Mayor of Gore Ben Bell confirmed that their two councils would partner together to deliver water services to their communities, in response to rising costs and the Government's Local Water Done Well policy. Member of Parliament for Southland welcomed the partnership between the Central Otago and Gore District Councils.

On 24 January 2025, Alley expressed support for a proposed joint regional economic deal between the CODC and the Queenstown-Lakes District Council to obtain central government funding to build a new gondola and regional hospital in Queenstown. The two councils, along with the Otago Regional Council, intend to make a joint bid for the infrastructural project by late February 2025. Alley described the proposed new regional hospital as "a win for health in our area."

On 14 April 2025, Alley confirmed that she would be standing as Mayor of Central Otago during the 2025 New Zealand local elections.

Personal life Alley is married with three children.