Jeremy McPhail Named New Council Chair

• Jeremy McPhail was elected unopposed as the new chair of Environment Southland.
• Phil Morrison was named deputy chair, both receiving unanimous support from the new council.
• Committee chair appointments will be finalised at the next Ordinary Meeting on 20 November.

Environment Southland’s new council held its first official meeting today, unanimously electing Jeremy McPhail as chair. McPhail, who previously served as deputy chair, steps into the leadership role following Nicol Horrell’s retirement from local government after this year’s election.

McPhail was elected unopposed in the Eastern Dome constituency and brings with him experience from three previous terms on the council.

Councillor Phil Morrison was also elected unanimously as the new deputy chair. Morrison, now in his second term, is one of six councillors representing the Invercargill-Rakiura constituency.

At the meeting, all councillors made a formal declaration to act in the best interests of Southland.

Chair McPhail was also named as Environment Southland’s representative on the Southland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.

Decisions on committee chairs have been postponed until the Ordinary Meeting of Council scheduled for 20 November.