Environment Southland chair Nicol Horrell has ended his long political journey with a reminder to council about the importance of its work.

Horrell’s valedictory speech on Wednesday bookended 18 years at the regional council, the last nine of which were spent as chair.

“A lot of people say, ‘what does the regional council do’? And actually, you are the guardians of the things in Southland that most people value, so never forget that,” he said.

“The ability to recreate, to have outstanding landscapes, it’s all future based.”

Horrell entered Environment Southland in 2007 through its Western constituency but never anticipated being there 18 years later.

Significant progress had been made in the area of water quality, he said, with attitudes changing from skepticism to “what do we have to do?”

“Looking back, I don’t think anybody else has actually served three terms as chair in Southland, so I’m not sure whether I’m a masochist or a slow learner,” Horrell quipped.

He also joked he would now be able to open the newspaper and say, “what on earth were they thinking?”

Horrell said he was looking forward to having a quieter life and spending more time with his family and wife.

“I couldn't have done it without her.”

Deputy chair Jeremy McPhail praised Horrell, saying he conducted himself with integrity and held a lot of mana wherever he went.

He also took a jab at the chair's driving.

In August, it was revealed Horrell's work car was clocked speeding 107 times during a one-year period by the council’s monitoring system.

“It’ll be a great feeling on Saturday, maybe when you’re driving down that highway and you see that car you want to pass, you know big brother’s not watching you,” McPhail said.

“You’ve got a free road now.”

Also finishing up at the council are long-serving councillors Robert Guyton and Neville Cook.

Guyton is not seeking re-election after 12 years and paid homage to former councillor Rowly Currie in his speech, saying he would kick him under the table when he spoke for too long.

Finishing up after 18 years, Cook had some advice for returning and incoming councillors: they represent everyone in Southland, including those who didn’t vote for them, and those who didn’t vote at all.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air