What matters to you in your community? Whatever needs changing, you could be the person to change it by becoming an ORC councillor. Know someone great? Encourage them to stand!  

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Environmental management: Managing the use of land, air, water, and coastal waters. This includes flood control, air and water quality, and pest control.  

Natural resource management: Managing land, air, and water resources sustainably. This includes supporting biodiversity and biosecurity.  

Regional transport: Planning and contracting passenger services, and managing harbour navigation and safety.  

Regional emergency management: Preparing for and responding to emergencies and natural disasters.  

Regional policy: Developing regional policy statements and issuing consents.  

Community wellbeing: Promoting the economic, social, cultural, and environmental wellbeing of the region.  

Otago is broken into four constituencies. Each Councillor serves their constituency, representing the main issues for their area in council discussions and financial spending, as well as Otago as a whole at a national level.  

In a regional council, the term ‘constituency’ is used rather than ‘ward’.

Regional councils are democratic organizations. 

• Councillors are elected by the local population every three years the period of service is called a triennium. 
• A Chairperson is elected by the councillors. 
• Teams of staff run the day-to-day operations and report to the Chief Executive.

As an elected member no two days are the same. You will: 

• be a part of governing the third largest region in the South Island 
• help decide how ORC’s money is spent 
• make decisions that will help define the future for our communities 
• decide how to meet the current and future needs for flooding infrastructure, climate change mitigation, transport services, protecting the health of Otago’s land and water 
• make decisions about consents and regulation 
• attend council meetings 

On any given day, an ORC councillor may:  

• read and prepare for upcoming meetings 
• vote in various decision-making meetings and committees 
• engage with the public to hear their views 
• attend events like public meetings, public consultation drop in sessions  
• represent the council at community events like Wanaka A&P show 
• take part in community activities, like a working bee for a local stream regeneration project 

On top of this, there will be responsibilities that relate to your specific role.