Mayor of Southland District
The mayor of Southland officiates over the Southland District Council. The mayor is directly elected using the first-past-the-post electoral system. The current mayor is Rob Scott, who was elected in 2022.
History
Southland District was established as part of the Territorial authorities of New Zealand#1989 [local government reforms|1989 local government amalgamation]. Frana Cardno joined the Southland District as a councillor in 1989, before being elected mayor in 1992. She retired from that role in October 2013 prior to that year's 2013 [New Zealand local elections|local elections], and was New Zealand's longest-serving female mayor ever.List of office holders
Southland District has had four mayors:| Name | Portrait | Term | |
| 1 | John Casey | 1989–1992 | |
| 2 | Frana Cardno | 1992–2013 | |
| 3 | Gary Tong | 2013–2022 | |
| 4 | Rob Scott | 2022–present |