Environment Southland () is the southernmost regional council in New Zealand, administering the Southland Region, including Stewart Island. In 2006, it had an operating revenue of NZ$19.6 million, NZ$7.1 million of this from rates revenue.Southland Regional Council (data sheet on official localcouncils.govt.nz website. Accessed 21 June 2008.)
The regional council is chaired by Jeremy McPhail, with Phil Morrison as his deputy. They were elected by their fellow councillors at the inaugural meeting of the new council on 29 October 2025 following the 2025 local elections.
List of chairpersons ?: Nicol Horrell; deputy Jeremy McPhail October 2025: Jeremy McPhail; deputy Phil Morrison
Councillors Environment Southland consists of 12 councillors elected from six constituencies: Fiordland, Eastern-Dome, Western, Hokonui, Southern and the Invercargill-Rakiura constituencies. Councillor Constituency Jeremy McPhail (Chairman) Eastern-Dome Phil Morrison (Deputy Chairman) Invercargill-Rakiura Roger Hodson Invercargill-Rakiura Lyndall Ludlow Invercargill-Rakiura Maurice Rodway Invercargill-Rakiura Eric Roy Invercargill–Rakiura Geoffrey Young Invercargill–Rakiura Alastair Gibson Eastern-Dome Paul Evans Fiordland Ewan Mathieson Western Jon Pemberton Southern David Rose Hokonui
History In July 2025, Environment Southland led an investigation into Gore's nitrate crisis, which had temporarily shut down the town's water supply, at the request of Mayor of Gore Ben Bell. According to the Otago Daily Times, the investigation was brief and its remit was restricted to determining whether the elevated concentrations of nitrate in the Cooper Wells was connected to a "discrete incident/source." The investigation closed in September 2025 and concluded that the Cooper Wells had "appropriate protections." In November 2025, Environment Southland said the investigation was "completed" and had not identified a "specific cause." Despite these findings, the Gore District Council continued to report excessively high nitrate levels in February 2026 in the Cooper Wells. Consequently, Gore's water supply had to be diluted from other sources. In late May 2026, Environment Southland's inconclusive nitrate investigation drew criticism from several freshwater campaigners and academics including University of Canterbury environmental health researcher Associate Prof Tim Chambers, University of Otago freshwater ecologist Prof Ross Thompson, Victoria University of Wellington freshwater ecologist Mike Joy and Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand representative Will Appelbe, who attributed the increased nitrate levels in Southland's waterways to the intensification of dairy farming in the region.
In early May 2026, Environment Southland designated Stephen Hall as its new executive, effective 1 July 2026. He succeeded former chief executive Rob Phillips, who had served as acting executive following the retirement of Wilma Falconer in 2025.
Coat of arms
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