Councils
- Southland mayor Rob Scott confirmed plans to stand again in October's election.
- Some councillors remain undecided while others confirmed they will step down.
- Nominations open on 4 July, with voting scheduled for 11 October.
Southland councillors have described their current term as “challenging,” with many still undecided about seeking re-election in October.
Mayor Rob Scott confirmed his intention to run again, saying the term length was too short to achieve everything in one cycle.
“I love the job and have got a lot of work still to do, so I’d love to carry on,” Scott said.
“It’s been more than a full-time job, and been a huge commitment, but also one that I’ve really enjoyed.”
Scott narrowly won the mayoral race in 2022, finishing just 39 votes ahead of the runner-up. Former mayor Gary Tong, who placed third, recently confirmed he would not return to politics.
While none of the current councillors have declared mayoral ambitions, several are still unsure about their future.
Long-serving councillor Paul Duffy, who had previously intended to step down after his eighth term, is now reconsidering after overcoming some health concerns.
He highlighted funding pressures, rising costs, and water-related uncertainty as key issues facing the council.
First-term councillor Derek Chamberlain described the experience as “challenging and frustrating,” adding, “Rewarding may not be one of them.”
Fellow first-term councillor Matt Wilson initially thought he wouldn’t stand again but is now reconsidering.
“It (council) moves a lot slower than I ever expected,” Wilson said.
Margie Ruddenklau remains undecided, while Stewart Island/Rakiura representative Jon Spraggon said there’s a possibility he will run again.
Meanwhile, Darren Frazer has confirmed he will step down after three terms.
“I’m done, so that’s it for me,” Frazer said, acknowledging the increasing challenges of the role while noting the council had still achieved “some good stuff.”
Deputy mayor Christine Menzies and councillor Sarah Greaney both confirmed their intention to stand again.
“I think it has been varied, it's been interesting, certainly had a lot of challenges and a lot of work in the pipeline that still needs to be done,” Greaney said.
Councillors Julie Keast, Jaspreet Boparai, Tom O’Brien, and Don Byars are also expected to feature on the ballot.
Southland District Council consists of one mayor and 12 councillors.
Nominations for this year’s election open on 4 July and close on 1 August, with voting scheduled for 11 October.