Mayor Phil Nixon: 'South Taranaki is the centre of the universe' 19 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM 7 minutes to read South Taranaki Mayor Phil Nixon says lots is happening in the district. Photo / Bevan Conley Laurel Stowell is a reporter for the Whanganui Chroniclelaurel.stowell@whanganuichronicle.co.nzWhangaChron Laurel Stowell talks to South Taranaki Mayor Phil Nixon about his first 18 months in the job and why he lives in "the centre of the universe". Phil Nixon gets up at 5.30am. If he has a lot on it's 4am. For nearly 20 years he had two jobs - a dairy farm and electrical work at the Kapuni lactose plant.