2025 Environment Canterbury election
11 October 2025
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| Turnout | 192,920 (41.6%) [1] | |||||||||||||||
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14 seats of Environment Canterbury 8 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. | ||||||||||||||||
The 2025 Environment Canterbury election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, as part of that year's regional council elections and other local elections held nation-wide.
Voters elected 14 regional councillors for the 2025–2028 term of Environment Canterbury, commonly referred to as ECan. Postal voting and the first past the post voting system were used.[2] ECan has 14 elected councillors and 2 councillors appointed by Ngāi Tahu, with the latter an arrangement in various forms dating back to 2010.
Key dates
[edit]- 4 July 2025: Nominations for candidates opened.
- 1 August 2025: Nominations for candidates closed at 12pm.
- 9 September 2025: Voting documents were posted and voting opened.
- 11 October 2025: Voting closed at noon and preliminary results released.
- 16 October 2025: Final results will be declared.[2]
Background
[edit]Chairperson during the previous triennium
[edit]Following the 2022 Environment Canterbury election, councillors Peter Scott and Craig Pauling were nominated for the role of chairperson. The vote was tied and Scott became chair through a draw.[3] On 3 May 2024, Scott stepped down as chair after admitting he was illegally irrigating part of his South Canterbury farm during a Newstalk ZB radio interview. Environment Canterbury commissioned an independent investigation into Scott's activities. Pauling became acting chair following Scott's resignation.[4][5] Scott resumed his role as chair in July,[6] but stepped down again in September after it was revealed he had exceeded the speed limit 678 times in his council-provided car since January.[7]
Ngāi Tahu representation
[edit]The Fifth National Government sacked the Environment Canterbury councillors and replaced them with commissioners.[8] Initially, one of the commissioners—Donald Couch—was appointed on the recommendation of Ngāi Tahu. Couch was later replaced by Elizabeth Cunningham. The arrangement was formalised through the Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Act 2016, which specified that two commissioners appointed must be recommended by Ngāi Tahu.[9] When the commissioners retired in 2019 and ECan returned to a fully elected council, an attempt was made to secure two permanent Ngāi Tahu seats on the council, but a local bill was defeated in parliament.[10] In response, two mana whenua experts were appointed—Yvette Couch-Lewis and Iaean Cranwell—who did not have voting rights, but advised at council and committee meetings.[11] The Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Act 2022 was passed by the Sixth Labour Government. It allows Ngāi Tahu to appoint two representatives to ECan with full voting rights, bringing the number of council members to sixteen.[12] The Sixth National Government asked ECan to repeal the 2022 act; as a local act, it is up to ECan to make a request to have the legislation changed.[13] ECan councillors voted to reject the government's request, with only Cr David East supporting the government's approach.[14] Consequently, ECan has 14 elected councillors and 2 councillors appointed by Ngāi Tahu.
Incumbents not seeking re-election
[edit]- Greg Byrnes decided to retire at the end of the term.[15]
- Paul Dietsche did not put his name forward for another term.[16]
- Craig Pauling, the outgoing chair, announced on the morning of nomination day that he was standing down.[17]
- Vicky Southworth's name wasn't part of the nominations received.[15]
Results
[edit]Fourteen councillors were elected to Environment Canterbury across seven constituencies, with two councillors per constituency.
North Canterbury/Ōpukepuke constituency
[edit]Based on progress results released on election day, councillor Grant Edge failed to get re-elected.[18]
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Claire McKay | 11,990 | 44.75 | −4.53 | |
| Independent | John Faulkner | 9,901 | 36.96 | (new) | |
| Independent | Grant Edge | 9,624 | 35.92 | −6.49 | |
| Independent | Tane Apanui | 6,151 | 22.96 | (new) | |
| Independent | Karetai Wood-Bodley | 4,357 | 16.26 | (new) | |
| Informal | 74 | 0.28 | +0.20 | ||
| Blank | 3,314 | 12.37 | +0.80 | ||
| Turnout | 26,791 | (43.36) | (−2.70) | ||
| Registered | 61,786 | ||||
| Independent hold | |||||
| Independent gain from Independent | |||||
| incumbent | |||||
Christchurch West/Ōpuna constituency
[edit]| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Deon Swiggs | 14,806 | 51.01 | +17.65 | |
| The People's Choice | Sara Gerard | 14,453 | 49.79 | (new) | |
| Independent | Michael Bennett | 8,629 | 29.73 | (new) | |
| The People's Choice | Colin Meurk | 8,115 | 27.96 | (new) | |
| Informal | 5 | 0.02 | 0.00 | ||
| Blank | 2,148 | 7.40 | −2.25 | ||
| Turnout | 29,026 | (38.27) | (−7.47) | ||
| Registered | 75,844 | ||||
| Independent hold | |||||
| The People's Choice hold | |||||
| incumbent | |||||
Mid-Canterbury/Ōpākihi constituency
[edit]| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Ian Mackenzie | 18,725 | 50.57 | −6.98 | |
| Independent | John Sunckell | 16,001 | 43.21 | −7.58 | |
| Independent | Helen Troy | 14,391 | 38.86 | (new) | |
| Independent | Peter Trolove | 12,287 | 33.18 | −2.48 | |
| Informal | 54 | 0.15 | −0.21 | ||
| Blank | 2,549 | 6.88 | +0.22 | ||
| Turnout | 37,031 | (47.70) | (+2.02) | ||
| Registered | 77,633 | ||||
| Independent hold | |||||
| Independent hold | |||||
| incumbent | |||||
South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi constituency
[edit]With both incumbents having retired, two new councillors were elected in this constituency.
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Nick Ward | 13,854 | 63.68 | +14.48 | |
| Independent | Peter Scott | 9,502 | 43.68 | −3.68 | |
| ACT Local | Toni Severin | 7,755 | 35.65 | (new) | |
| Informal | 3 | 0.01 | −0.10 | ||
| Blank | 1,958 | 9.00 | −1.59 | ||
| Turnout | 21,756 | (49.78) | (−0.54) | ||
| Registered | 43,707 | ||||
| Independent hold | |||||
| Independent hold | |||||
| incumbent | |||||
Christchurch North East/Ōrei constituency
[edit]Based on progress results released on election day, councillor David East failed to get re-elected.[18] Davies supported candidates in constituencies where The People's Choice had stood no candidates. TPC took issue with this behaviour and expelled Davies on 6 November 2025 from the ticket.[21]
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Ashley Campbell | 11,351 | 42.93 | +17.33 | |
| The People's Choice – Labour | Joe Davies | 10,991 | 41.57 | +9.73 | |
| Independent | David East | 10,569 | 39.98 | −9.59 | |
| The People's Choice – Labour | Peter Langlands | 8,907 | 33.69 | (new) | |
| Informal | 6 | 0.02 | 0.00 | ||
| Blank | 1,202 | 4.55 | −3.91 | ||
| Turnout | 26,438 | (37.04) | (−7.23) | ||
| Registered | 71,384 | ||||
| Independent gain from Independent | |||||
| The People's Choice – Labour hold | |||||
| incumbent | |||||
Christchurch Central/Ōhoko constituency
[edit]| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Genevieve Robinson | 8,617 | 36.89 | −5.64 | |
| Independent | Nettles Lamont | 8,263 | 35.37 | (new) | |
| Independent | Alexandra Davids | 6,623 | 28.35 | (new) | |
| Independent | Lindon Boyce | 4,331 | 18.54 | (new) | |
| Independent | Ross Boswell | 4,148 | 17.76 | (new) | |
| Independent | Benjamin Alexander | 3,567 | 15.27 | (new) | |
| Independent | Alan Wang | 3,255 | 13.93 | (new) | |
| Informal | 16 | 0.07 | +0.04 | ||
| Blank | 1,602 | 6.86 | −3.23 | ||
| Turnout | 23,360 | (34.44) | (−3.55) | ||
| Registered | 67,829 | ||||
| Independent hold | |||||
| Independent gain from Independent | |||||
| incumbent | |||||
Christchurch South/Ōwhanga constituency
[edit]| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The People's Choice | Andrea Davis | 14,960 | 52.58 | (new) | |
| Independent | Nick Moody | 11,288 | 39.67 | (new) | |
| Independent | Mananui Ramsden | 8,649 | 30.40 | (new) | |
| Independent | Bill Kingston | 4,527 | 15.91 | (new) | |
| Independent | Mike Okey | 3,587 | 12.61 | (new) | |
| Independent | Philip Robinson | 2,752 | 9.67 | (new) | |
| Independent | John McLister | 2,310 | 8.12 | (new) | |
| Informal | 17 | 0.06 | +0.03 | ||
| Blank | 1,465 | 5.15 | −4.60 | ||
| Turnout | 28,452 | (43.54) | (−5.96) | ||
| Registered | 65,342 | ||||
| The People's Choice gain from Independent | |||||
| Independent hold | |||||
| incumbent | |||||
Election of chairperson
[edit]At the inaugural meeting of a newly elected council, a chairperson and deputy chair are elected by the council members. On 29 October 2025, Deon Swiggs was elected chair unopposed. Claire McKay, Nettles Lamont, and Iaean Cranwell were nominated for the deputy role, with Cranwell winning the election.[22]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Local Authority Election Statistics 2025". Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Elections in Waitaha Canterbury". Environment Canterbury. 12 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ "Councillors elect Peter Scott as Chair for new term". Environment Canterbury. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ "Environment Canterbury Chair steps aside following on-air comments". Inside Government. JSL media. 3 May 2024. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Hill, David (3 May 2024). "ECan chair steps down, pending investigation". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2025 – via TVNZ.
- ↑ Leask, Jonathan (25 July 2024). "Peter Scott resumes role as ECan chair". The Star. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ "Environment Canterbury chair Peter Scott resigns". Radio New Zealand. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Gorman, Paul (4 April 2010). "ECan councillors sacked". The Press. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Mitchell, Charlie (23 February 2016). "Ngāi Tahu guaranteed two seats on Canterbury regional council". Stuff. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Gorman, Paul (19 September 2019). "End of an era for Environment Canterbury as former commissioners retire". Stuff. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ McDonald, Liz (4 August 2022). "'Historic moment' as Parliament votes to allow Ngāi Tahu to choose Environment Canterbury appointees". Stuff. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Dexter, Giles (4 August 2022). "New law gives Ngāi Tahu right to appoint two Environment Canterbury councillors". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ "Local Government Minister 'committed' to removing iwi representation from Canterbury Regional Council". Radio New Zealand. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Hill, David (28 August 2024). "ECan stands firm on Ngāi Tahu representation". The Press. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- 1 2 Williams, David (18 August 2025). "Govt casts shadow over departing regional councillors". Newsroom. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ "Candidates confirmed for Canterbury Regional Council election". Environment Canterbury. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ McDonald, Liz (1 August 2025). "ECan chairman Craig Pauling to stand down". The Press. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- 1 2 "Progress election results released". Environment Canterbury. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Morton, Anthony (18 October 2025). "Environment Canterbury – 2025 Triennial Elections – Declaration of Result" (PDF). ElectioNZ. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Local Authority Election Statistics 2025". Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ Harvie, Will (7 November 2025). "ECan councillor Joe Davies expelled from The People's Choice". The Press. Stuff. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ Harvie, Will (29 October 2025). "ECan councillors back Deon Swiggs as new chairperson". The Press. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
| Elections | |||||||
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