Council committees, boards & subcommittees
Council and committee meetings are scheduled usually on a Wednesday, every three weeks. You can access meeting schedules, agendas and minutes for these meetings online.
Council has 5 committees:
Executive
Chair: Mayor Gary Tong
Committee members: Cr Paul Duffy, Cr Ebel Kremer and Cr Julie Keast
Responsible for reviewing the performance of the chief executive and recommending remuneration levels. To review any indiscretions by Councillors under the Southland District Council Code of Conduct. To deal with matters of an urgent nature that cannot wait until the next council meeting or specific matters referred to it by Council. To monitor compliance with the Southland District Council Fraud Policy. Authority to engage the independent member of the Finance and Assurance Committee to assist with the investigation of a code of conduct issue/complaint should they consider that desirable.
Regulatory and Consents Committee
Chair: Cr Paul Duffy
Committee members: Mayor Gary Tong, Cr Darren Frazer, Cr Julie Keast, Cr Christine Menzies and Cr Margie Ruddenklau
Responsible for overseeing the role of the council under various pieces of legislation and also the Resource Management Act 1991 including deliberation on matters that are publicly notified and where a hearing is required.
Services and Assets Committee
Chair: Cr Ebel Kremer
Committee members: Mayor Tong and all councillors
Responsible for overseeing Transport, Property management including community facilities, acquisitions and disposals (including land dealings), Forestry, Water supply, wastewater and stormwater; Solid waste management; Flood protection, Waste management, Rural fire management, Te Anau Airport, Stewart Island Jetties and Riverton Harbour Subcommittees, Water supply schemes and Stewart Island Electrical Supply Authority
Finance and Assurance Committee
Chair: Mr Bruce Robertson (external member)
Deputy Chair: Cr Ebel Kremer
Committee members: Mayor Gary Tong, Cr Don Byars, Cr John Douglas, Cr Paul Duffy and Cr Julie Keast
Responsible for ensuring that Council has appropriate financial, risk management and internal control systems in place that provide: an overview of the financial and non-financial performance of the organisation; effective management of potential opportunities and adverse effects; reasonable assurance as to the integrity and reliability of Council’s financial and non-financial reporting; exercising active oversight of information technology systems, health and safety policies, processes, compliance, results and frameworks and relationships with external, internal auditors, banking institutions and insurance brokers.
Monitor and assess the financial and non-financial performance of Council against budgeted and forecasted outcomes; consideration of forecasted changes to financial outcomes; Council’s compliance with legislative requirements; Council’s risk management framework; Council’s control framework; Council’s compliance with its treasury responsibilities and Council’s compliance with its Fraud Policy.
Community and Strategy Committee
Chair: Cr Julie Keast
Committee members: Mayor Tong and all councillors
Responsible for assessing and providing advice on key strategic issues, community development, services of the District’s communities, developing, recommending, monitoring implementation and effectiveness of strategies, plans and policies, developing and approving submissions, advocating Council position to other organisations. Responsible for monitoring the progress, implementation and effectiveness of work undertaken by Great South, allocation of grants, loan, scholarships and bursaries, International relations and developing an overseeing the implementation of Council’s community engagement and consultation policies and processes.
Water supply subcommittees:
The council has constituted three Water Supply Subcommittees within the district which are each responsible for the overall governance of the respective water supply scheme in accordance with the policies of council. These subcommittees are:
- Te Anau Basin: One member each from Ramparts, Mt York, Takitimu, Kakapo
- Five Rivers: Six members plus ward councillor
- Matuku: Six members plus ward councillor
Council also has a Community Trust in Milford and other subcommittees include the Stewart Island Jetties Subcommittee and the Riverton Harbour Subcommittee.
Speaking at Council meetings
Every Council meeting has time allocated for public forum and deputations.
Public forums enable members of the public to bring matters to the attention of Council. The matters being raised do not have to be contained in the agenda of the meeting.
You can also present at a meeting on behalf of a group or organisation, as a deputation. The matters being raised do have to be contained in the agenda of the meeting.
If you would like to speak in public forum or as a deputation, please contact a member of the Governance Team on 0800 732 732 at least two working days before the meeting. We will discuss the rules around the processes including time limits and obtaining permission to speak.’
Council organisations
There are external organisations that Council has representation on. These are as follows:
Age Concern Southland |
Janet Thomas (Officer) |
Destination Fiordland |
Cr Ebel Kremer and Cr John Douglas |
Creative Communities |
Cr Margie Ruddenklau |
Gore and Districts Community Counselling Centre Inc. |
Cr Julie Keast |
Milford Sound Development Authority |
Mayor Gary Tong |
Pioneer Women’s Memorial Trust (Gore) |
Cr Julie Keast |
Rakiura Heritage Centre Trust |
Cr Bruce Ford |
Regional Community Road Safety Network |
Hartley Hare (Officer) |
Southland Indoor Leisure Centre Charitable Trust |
Cr Darren Frazer (Chief Executive) |
Southland Medical Foundation |
Mayor Gary Tong |
Southland Regional Heritage Building and Preservation Trust |
Cr Paul Duffy (Cr Karyn Owen as an alternate) |
Te Roopu Taiao |
Mayor Gary Tong (Cr Paul Duffy as an alternate) |
Waiau Working Party |
Cr George Harpur |
Joint committees of the Council
Civil Defence Emergency Management Group
Mayor Gary Tong with Deputy Mayor Paul Duffy as alternate
The purpose of the group is to identify the hazards and risks to be managed by the group and the Civil Defence Emergency Management measures deemed necessary to manage those hazards and risks.
Southland Regional Heritage Joint Committee
Cr Paul Duffy and Cr Karyn Owen
The purpose of the committee is to establish and preserve the regional heritage of Murihiku/Southland.
For more information about the committee contact Great South (03) 211 1400
Southland Regional Land Transport Committee
Cr Ebel Kremer
Venture Southland Joint Committee
Mayor Gary Tong and Cr Paul Duffy
Responsible for the advancement and coordination of activities within the Southland region including, tourism, economic and business development, promotion and marketing of the region and events management.
WasteNet (Waste Management Advisory Group)
Mayor Gary Tong and Cr Ebel Kremer
WasteNet has been developed to encompass waste management issues in Southland.
Combined Local Approved Products Joint Committee
Councillors George Harpur and Paul Duffy
Combined Local Alcohol Policy Joint Committee
Councillors George Harpur, Julie Keast, Paul Duffy and Darren Frazer
Council controlled organisations
Council controlled organisations (CCOs) are those organisations in which the Council is involved by itself or with other local authorities and controls any proportion of voting rights or rights to appoint directors etc.
Find out more about council controlled organisations.
Southland Museum & Art Gallery Trust board
The purpose of the trust board is to maintain, manage and operate a museum and art gallery.
Council have deferred making an appointment until a report on the future structure of the trust is known.
For more information contact the Southland Museum and Art Gallery Invercargill Director - (03) 218 9753, office@southlandmuseum.co.nz
Milford Community Trust
Councillor Ebel Kremer
Community boards contacts
Ardlussa Community Board
Chair – Richard Clarkson 027 544 2220
Fiordland Community Board
Chair – Sarah Greaney 027 222 6634
Northern Community Board
Chair – Greg Tither 027 203 2672
Oraka Aparima Community Board
Chair – Graeme Stuart 027 222 0962
Oreti Community Board
Chair – Brian Somerville 027 704 5287
Stewart Island/Rakiura Community Board
Chair – Jon Spraggon 027 248 2522
Tuatapere Te Waewae Community Board
Chair – Margaret Thomas 027 231 5581
Waihopai Toetoe Community Board
Chair – Pam Yorke 027 225 5654
Wallace Takitimu Community Board
Chair – André Bekhuis 027 220 6933