Invercargill City Councillor Nigel Skelt has resigned from his role on Council.

Council Chief Executive Michael Day said he received Mr Skelt’s resignation on Thursday night (4 May 2023).

“In the event of the resignation of any elected member at this stage of the term, the Local Electoral Act 2001 requires a by-election to be held."

“Council will provide more details on the by-election in due course,” Day said.

The statement announcing Mr Skelt's resignation as councillor says neither he nor his family would be making any further comment at this time and any further questions were to be directed to the council's communications team.

Mr Skelt's decision to step aside follows his abrupt resignation as the general manager of ILT Stadium Southland last month, a position he has held for 24 years. At the time the reasons for his departure were cited as medical and personal. It has since been revealed that an employee had laid a complaint against Mr Skelt that resulted in a confidential settlement. The young woman resigned from her job saying she felt uncomfortable and unsafe following behaviour by Mr Skelt.

Documents released under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act show Mayor Nobby Clark helped to arrange a payment of $3000 to cover the employee's lost income, an offer of counselling and work, a warning for Skelt, and a confidentiality agreement.

Mr Skelt was the highest polling Invercargill City Council candidate at the 2022 local government elections. He was later appointed the council's Project 1225 Lead, charged with leading the delivery of a new museum for Southland, on the site of the existing facility, by the end of 2025.