Longstanding Invercargill City Councillor and former deputy mayor Darren Ludlow has announced he will run for mayor later this year.

Cr Ludlow, who served as deputy mayor for six years between 2012 and 2017, said he aims to run his campaign on "leadership that prioritises positive engagement at all levels".

It is the first time he has run for mayor.

"I’ve openly said, for many years, that one day I would be interested in seeking the mayoralty," Cr Ludlow told The Southland App. "I’ve been in local government since 1998 and felt it was time to see if there was support for me to step up to the next level. I’d really value the opportunity to represent our city in this role and provide positive and engaged leadership in the new council culture. I’ve also been encouraged by the number of people who’ve approached me and are supportive of me taking this step."

He joins current ICC deputy mayor Rebecca Amundsen as the only two confirmed challengers to New Zealand's longest serving mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt in October's election.

Cr Ludlow resigned suddenly as deputy mayor in 2017 on the grounds that he had decided to focus more on his other council roles. However, it was later discovered Sir Tim and 10 other councillors had signed a requisition to have him removed, although it is understood the the requisition was never invoked. Cr Amundsen was among those who took part in the secret meeting.

Cr Ludlow said today that since the change in roles his attitude had been "to put my head down and get on with it". 

"We're put there to do a job and it's not about us as individuals and I think that attitude is part of who I am and I see that as a positive style of leadership."

"[When I resigned] there were some councillors who wanted to see some change but this isn't a decision for various councillors with ambitions, this is a decision for the public."

He said helping unify the council was an important part of being mayor and something he believed in.

"I think there needs to be a level of unification at council regardless of who is in the role. Not that it's dysfunctional, it's just lacking clear direction and I feel I've got the skills to help set it on track."

He also said with Invercargill on the "cusp of significant transformation" it was a "crucial" time in the city's history.

"I offer firm but fair leadership with integrity to grow a city people choose to live, study, work, and stay in for the future." 

Cr Ludlow was first elected to the council in 1998 and did not seek re-election in 2001. He returned in 2004 and is serving his sixth term.

He currently serves as chairman of the council’s Finance & Policy Committee, Hearings Committee, and District Licensing Committee. He is also the station manager at Radio Southland.