2025 Environment Southland election
The 2025 Environment Southland election was a local election held between 9 September and 11 October 2025 in the Southland Region of New Zealand, as part of that year's nationwide local body elections. Voters elected 12 regional councillors for the 2025-2028 term of Environment Southland. Postal voting and first-past-the-post voting were used.
Key dates
- 4 July 2025: Nominations for candidates opened.
- 1 August 2025: Nominations for candidates closed at 12pm. Updates to the preliminary electoral roll closed at 5pm.
- 9 September 2025: Voting documents were posted and voting opened.
- 11 October 2025: Voting closed at 12pm and preliminary results released.
- 16-22 October 2025: Declaration of final results.
- October/November 2025: Swearing-in ceremonies for elected members.
Background
Local body elections are held in New Zealand every three years. The last Southland Regional Council election was held in 2022, with 18 nominations for 12 vacancies. Elections were held in all but one ward.By 1 August 2025, Environment Southland had received 18 nominations for 12 positions. Since the five candidates for the Fiordland, Eastern-Dome, Western and Southern regional constituencies are standing unopposed, elections will only be required for the Hokonui and Invercargill-Rakiura constituencies.
Other local body elections were also held for the Invercargill City Council, the Gore District Council, the Southland District Council, the Invercargill Licensing Trust and the Mataura Licensing Trust.
List of candidates
Incumbents not seeking re-election
- Environment Southland chairman Cr Nicol Horrell of the Western regional constituency confirmed on 1 August 2025 that they would not be seeking re-election.
- Cr Neville Cooke of the Invercargill-Rakiura regional constituency.
- Cr Robert Guyton of the Invercargill-Rakiura regional constituency.
Councillors
Fiordland constituency
The Fiordland constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.As the only candidate, Evans was re-elected unopposed.
Eastern-Dome constituency
The Eastern-Dome constituency returned two councillors to the regional council.As the number of candidates did not exceed the number of positions available, Gibson and McPhail were re-elected unopposed.
Western constituency
The Western constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.As the only candidate, Mathieson was re-elected unopposed.
Hokonui constituency
The Hokonui constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.Southern constituency
The Southern constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.As the only candidate, Pemberton was re-elected unopposed.