Christchurch-based regional councillor Deon Swiggs has confirmed he will contest the chair position at Environment Canterbury (ECan).

Swiggs received 14,500 votes in the recent local body elections, placing him among one of the highest-polling councillors in Canterbury, including those elected to the Christchurch City Council.

He was appointed as Deputy Chair of Environment Canterbury on 16 October 2024.

Swiggs said he was humbled by the support shown by voters and wanted to continue building a more accountable, transparent, and forward-thinking regional council.

“The result shows the public has confidence in my vision for Canterbury’s environment and infrastructure,” Swiggs said.

“I want to lead a council that listens to communities and makes decisions based on evidence and long-term sustainability.”

Swiggs entered regional politics in 2022 after serving as a Christchurch City councillor for the Central Ward between 2016 and 2019.

He has built a profile around community engagement, environmental protection, and the need for stronger public input in council decision-making.

During his time in local government, Swiggs has been outspoken on the need for better water governance, climate adaptation, and regional planning that reflects both urban growth and rural priorities.

He has also called for stronger collaboration between regional and city councils to improve transport, infrastructure resilience, and flood management across Canterbury.

Also seeking the chair position is Ngāi Tahu appointee Iaean Cranwell, one of two unelected representatives on the regional council, who has previously served in the role.

The race for the chair will be decided at the inaugural meeting later this month.

If successful, Swiggs would lead ECan at a significant time for regional environmental management, with the Government expected to release new legislation to replace the Resource Management Act before Christmas. The reforms are likely to reshape how councils make planning and environmental decisions across the country.

Iaean Cranwell was approached for comment.