Invercargill City Council has finalised its key leadership positions, appointing Grant Dermody to the role of Deputy Mayor.

With final results from Elections 2025 now confirmed, the successful Council candidates are set to be officially sworn-in on Tuesday, 28 October. The first full Council meeting for the new triennium would be held the following week on Tuesday, 4 November, at it's inaugural meeting, the incoming Council will receive a report and will be asked to formally adopt the proposed committee structure and positions.

Mayor-Elect Tom Campbell said those elected to Council brought with them a high calibre of skills and experience across a diverse range of backgrounds.

This year’s local body elections saw Councillors Steve Broad, Alex Crackett, Grant Dermody, Trish Boyle, Darren Ludlow, Ria Bond, Ian Pottinger, Allan Arnold, and Barry Stewart returned to the Council table alongside new elected members Andrea De Vries and Lisa Tou McNaughton. Marcus Lush, who served as a Councillor between 2021 and 2022, was also returned to the role.

The Mayor-Elect had met with Councillors in the days following the election, to discuss the make-up of the new Council and its various Committees. He had also advised them of his decisions regarding the Deputy Mayor and Committee Chair positions, before the announcement was made public.

“During the past week, I have spoken to all incoming Councillors about their aspirations for the term ahead. All of Council’s committees govern critical work needed for the future of our city, and the people who call it home,” Campbell said.

“In each case, I have appointed the Councillor who I judge to have both the capability and the relevant experience to hit the ground running, and effectively lead that work with urgency. I look forward to working with all elected members closely, and I am excited to see what we can achieve on behalf of our community together.”

The Deputy Mayor, Grant Dermody, would also be Chair of a new Water Committee. “This committee will oversee all matters relating to our Water Services Delivery Plan, which was approved by the Department of Internal Affairs recently. The largest capital and operating investment for Council in the next three years will be heavily concentrated in this area, and Grant was deeply involved in the development of that Plan, so he will continue to lead the governance of that work.

Grant will also continue to take the lead governance role overseeing Te Unua Museum of Southland, until at least the physical completion of our new facility. Once the build is complete, accountability for Te Unua will transition to the Community and Regulatory Committee,” Campbell said.

Meanwhile, Alex Crackett had been assigned the Chair of the Infrastructure and Growth Committee. “This Committee will govern non-water infrastructure planning and delivery, and will play a lead role in driving growth and major projects in our community. Included in that remit will be housing and climate change adaptation projects.

“Alex is a former deputy chair of our infrastructure committee, who I know is passionate about not only driving growth but also about ensuring our infrastructure – such as affordable housing – is able to match the pace of that growth."

Darren Ludlow had been offered the role of Chair of the Community and Regulatory Committee.

“Darren proved a seasoned and effective leader of that Committee last term. In the context of Council focusing on non-capital ways to improve peoples’ lives, this Committee will play a key role in leading those initiatives. I have also asked Darren to take on the work of providing governance mentoring for our new Councillors,” Campbell said.

The Finance and Policy Committee would be chaired by Trish Boyle. “Trish has had an extensive career in senior management and governance, but in particular her past role as Chair of Community Trust South has prepared her well for the critical work of ensuring public money is spent well, and spent efficiently,” he said.

The Audit and Risk Committee would continue to be chaired by an external appointee, to ensure this specialist work was governed professionally, Campbell said.

He had invited Ross Jackson, who chaired the Committee during Council’s last term, to continue in that role. All of the structures and roles would be subject to a review after 12 months of operation, he said. Incoming elected members will be sworn-in to Council on Tuesday, 28 October.

The first full Council meeting will be held the following week, on Tuesday, 4 November.

Jo Eruera, Justin Sutherland, Ray Fife, Haylee Simeon, and Frazer Murdoch were successfully elected to the Bluff Community Board.

The board’s first meeting would be held on Monday, 24 November. At this meeting, members would elect their Board Chair.