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Reading Time: 2 minutes New leadership is set to steer the Canterbury Regional Council at a pivotal time for regional and local government. Second-term regional councillor Deon Swiggs was elected chair of the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) in a unanimous vote at the inaugural council meeting on Wednesday. The Christchurch West councillor was nominated by councillor John Sunckell and seconded by councillor Ian Mackenzie, both Mid Canterbury representatives. Swiggs said it is a “great honour and privilege” to lead the council for the next three years. “This is a pivotal time for regional and local government. I look forward to working with the rest of our council colleagues as we guide the regional council through this period of new opportunities, while navigating the challenges ahead. “I look forward to getting on with the work, but we do have a lot of work ahead of us. I will serve you well and bring this table together.” Swiggs served as deputy chair for part of the previous triennium. A former naval officer, Christchurch city councillor, and a director of Rebuild Christchurch, Swiggs has also established several horticulture businesses, focusing on sustainable land use. He has a Bachelor of Applied Management in Sales and Marketing, a Graduate Diploma in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Graduate Diploma in Management, Master of Business Administration, and recently completed a doctorate in Business. He brings 15 years of crisis leadership through major system transitions, from earthquake recovery to navigating government agency restructuring while protecting community interests. “My RMA commissioner accreditation and recent doctoral graduation and experience founding sustainable businesses provide the analytical rigour needed for complex regional decisions. “As former city councillor and current regional leader, I understand how to navigate competing interests while staying focused on evidence-based outcomes,” Swigg said. Councillor Iaean Cranwellwas appointed deputy chair. He has spent three terms as a councillor and one as Tūmu Taiao (mana whenua expert advisor).“My focus is the region as a whole. I was selected by Ngāi Tahu, but my duty is to every community in Canterbury,” Cranwell said. “I will lead the whole region, grounded in fairness and long-term outcomes.”
