Otago Regional Council
The Otago Regional Council makes decisions about managing resources in the region, such as air, water, soil and the coastline. It also carries out plant and pest control, helps prepare for natural disasters, and is involved in regional transport. The council is made up of 12 councillors. Councillors are elected to represent constituencies (areas in the region). five councillors will be elected from the Dunedin constituency. This is a single transferable vote (STV) election, so you vote by ranking the candidates on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Otago Regional Council election.
Otago Regional Council candidates
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Gretchen Robertson
Why I'm standing
I'm running for council because I absolutely love Otago—its outstanding landscapes, diverse communities, and natural resources make it the best region anywhere. I want us to retain the competitive advantage Otago has, founded on its environment. I think we need to foster a willingness to be proud of our kiwi values - stand up and say it's still cool to care about our environment and each other.
About me
I bring experience, technical expertise, and governance leadership, combined with a collaborative approach to getting things done. I'm excited to help navigate change and foster adaptability, bringing councils and communities together to work smarter. Councils will change the way they work together and with communities - I'm keen to be part of that. I enjoy working with people and communities and believe we thrive on diversity, your voice matters.
My priorities
- Ensure waterways meet ecological bottom lines and maintain high-quality rivers and streams.
- Foster kiwi values of community care for the environment and each other.
- Remove council silos to enable stronger collaboration in regional planning.
Get across the policies, candidates and parties
Don’t know who to vote for? Policy.nz is the complete guide to the 2025 local elections. Compare the candidates and policies to see where you stand.
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