Ms Calvert, who was the sole candidate for Chair and was elected unanimously, was also the top polling candidate from the Dunedin ward, while Kevin Malcolm from the Moeraki ward was similarly the sole nominee and was elected Deputy Chair unanimously.

ORC’s Chief Executive Richard Saunders welcomed the new and returning councillors to the ORC for the 2025–2028 triennium.

“This triennium sees five new councillors joining the table, and seven returning councillors. We look forward to supporting and working collaboratively with the Council members to continue ORC’s work” he says.  

Ms Calvert previously served as a Councillor in the 2019-22 triennium. She was a Councillor with the Dunedin City Council from 2013-16.

From September 2010 until November 2011, Ms Calvert was in Parliament as an ACT Party list MP, including serving as party whip.

As an ORC candidate, Ms Calvert campaigned on getting better value from ORC services for ratepayers, with a focus on keeping future rates increases down, while maintaining the impetus of ORC’s environmental journey.

Ms Calvert says “We can be the best regional council in New Zealand. If those in Wellington have aspirations to legislate us out of existence, they will need to do so knowing how a great regional council can contribute to the political and legislative framework in New Zealand.”

Elected - Dunedin Regional Constituency (5 vacancies. * re-elected)

*Andrew Noone, *Gretchen Robertson, *Alan Somerville, Hilary Calvert, Chanel Gardner

Elected - Molyneux Regional Constituency (2 vacancies)

*Kate Wilson, Robbie Byars

Elected - Dunstan Regional Constituency (4 vacancies)

*Gary Kelliher, *Michael Laws, Matt Hollyer, Neil Gillespie

Elected - Moeraki Regional Constituency (1 vacancy)

*Kevin Malcolm

Departing Councillors from the previous triennium, were Alexa Forbes (who did not stand), while former Councillors unsuccessful in securing re-election were Lloyd McCall (Molyneux constituency) and Elliot Weir and Tim Mepham (both Dunedin constituency).