NZ Local Elections 2025

Mayor of Southland

The mayor is the leader of the council. Their job is to promote a vision for the district and lead the development of the council’s plans, policies and budget. The mayor appoints the deputy mayor, establishes committees for particular topics, and appoints chairs for those committees. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Southland District Council mayoral election.

Candidates

Policies

Choose a topic to compare

Climate change and resilience

Climate change and resilience

Environment

Environment

Housing and planning

Housing and planning

Jobs and economy

Jobs and economy

Local democracy

Local democracy

Rates and revenue

Rates and revenue

Recreation and culture

Recreation and culture

Transport

Transport

Utilities and services

Utilities and services

Transport

Helping communities get from A to B is a key responsibility of local government, from making sure the buses run on time to providing car parking and walking and cycling paths. Whether public transport is the responsibility of the regional or local council depends on where you are in the country. Local councils also own 87% of New Zealand’s roads.

Transport

Helping communities get from A to B is a key responsibility of local government, from making sure the buses run on time to providing car parking and walking and cycling paths. Whether public transport is the responsibility of the regional or local council depends on where you are in the country. Local councils also own 87% of New Zealand’s roads.

  • Encourage a regional bus transport system in Southland.

    Encourage more cycling and walking rather than using a vehicle for short trips to shops.

    Implement better road safety measures for cyclists.

  • Continue roading advocacy to ensure the funding model in Wellington reflects Southland’s unique situation and provides fair funding.

    Continue the good work on Te Anau Airport this term with a goal to be profitable as soon as possible.

    Reorganise the regional transport forum so that Southland is not grouped with Otago and is not managed by Environment Southland who have no skin in the game.

  • Encourage a regional bus transport system in Southland.

    Encourage more cycling and walking rather than using a vehicle for short trips to shops.

    Implement better road safety measures for cyclists.

  • Continue roading advocacy to ensure the funding model in Wellington reflects Southland’s unique situation and provides fair funding.

    Continue the good work on Te Anau Airport this term with a goal to be profitable as soon as possible.

    Reorganise the regional transport forum so that Southland is not grouped with Otago and is not managed by Environment Southland who have no skin in the game.

Climate change and resilience

Climate change and resilience

Environment

Environment

Housing and planning

Housing and planning

Jobs and economy

Jobs and economy

Local democracy

Local democracy

Rates and revenue

Rates and revenue

Recreation and culture

Recreation and culture

Transport

Transport

Utilities and services

Utilities and services

Mayor

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Local council

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Regional council

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Local board

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