The salty spring air feels a little different this week, as two familiar faces in Rodney public life prepare to step back.

After years of service on the Rodney Local Board, Louise Johnston and Michelle Carmichael are both finishing their terms, leaving behind a legacy Coasties will keep feeling for years.

Louise, who many will remember for her hands-on approach at Green Road Park planting days, served three terms.

She’s helped shape the masterplan for what she hopes will one day be the “Cornwall Park of Rodney,” a place for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and families to enjoy.

She also fought hard to bring back the Dairy Flat bus service, the 986, restoring vital links for rural residents.

Michelle, elected for one term, pushed for more openness and stronger community connections.

She made board workshops public, giving locals a clear window into decision-making.

In Warkworth, she met regularly with community groups, and her environmental focus carried through to her role on the Kaipara Moana Remediation Governance Partnership.

Rodney Local Board Chairperson Brent Bailey says both have been strong voices and steady advocates for people and the environment.

Their efforts, he notes, have laid a strong foundation for the next board.

For Coasties, the work Louise and Michelle have done on transport, green spaces, and community transparency will ripple outward — whether through easier rural bus links or the long-term vision for Green Road Park becoming a true recreational hub.

Their departure is a reminder that local voices really do shape daily life here, and we wish them both well as they turn the page to what comes next.

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