2025 Environment Canterbury election

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 nation-wide local elections. Voters elected 14 regional councillors for the 2025–2028 term of Environment Canterbury, commonly referred to as ECan. Postal voting and the single transferable vote system were used.^[1] ECan has 14 elected councillors and 2 councillors appointed by Ngāi Tahu, with the latter an arrangement in various forms dating back to 2010.

• 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.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[3][4] Scott resumed his role as chair in July,^[5] 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.^[6]

The Fifth National Government sacked the Environment Canterbury councillors and replaced them with commissioners.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9] 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.^[10] 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.^[11] 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.^[12] ECan councillors voted to reject the government's request, with only Cr David East supporting the government's approach.^[13] Consequently, ECan has 14 elected councillors and 2 councillors appointed by Ngāi Tahu.

• Greg Byrnes decided to retire at the end of the term.^[14]
• Paul Dietsche did not put his name forward for another term.^[15]
• Craig Pauling, the outgoing chair, announced on the morning of nomination day that he was standing down.^[16]
• Vicky Southworth's name wasn't part of the nominations received.^[14]

Fourteen councillors were elected to Environment Canterbury across seven constituencies, with two councillors per constituency.

Based on progress results released on election day, councillor Grant Edge failed to get re-elected.^[17]

With both incumbents having retired, two new councillors were elected in this constituency.

Based on progress results released on election day, councillor David East failed to get re-elected.^[17] 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.^[19]

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.^[20]