Craig Pauling
Craig Pauling | |
|---|---|
Craig Pauling, Green Party candidate for Banks Peninsula in the 2026 election | |
| Chair of Environment Canterbury | |
| In office 16 October 2024 – 17 October 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Scott |
| Deputy Chair of Environment Canterbury | |
| In office October 2019 – October 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Green[1] |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | https://craigpauling.nz/ |
Craig Aaron Pauling is a New Zealand politician and environmental scientist. He was chairperson of Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) from October 2024 to October 2025 and a member of the council for six years from 2019. A member of the Green Party, Pauling is the party's candidate for Banks Peninsula at the 2026 general election.
Early life and education
Pauling is of Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga and European descent.[1] He attended high school at Aranui High School and graduated from Lincoln University with a degree in environmental management.[1] He later completed postgraduate qualifications in social science and ecology.[1]
Political career
Pauling was first elected to the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) in the Christchurch West/Ōpuna constituency in 2019.[2] He was elected for a second term in 2022.[3]
After the 2022 local elections, Pauling was one of two candidates nominated to be the regional council chair. The incumbent chair, Peter Scott, was the other candidate. The vote was tied and the tie was broken by randomly drawing a name from a container.[4] Scott retained the chair and Pauling was unanimously appointed deputy chair.[4]
In 2024, Scott twice stepped down as chair temporarily due to controversies following his admission he was undertaking illegal practices on his farm and repeatedly speeding in a council-owned car.[5] Pauling acted as chair during these periods and was elected to the chair in October 2024 when Scott resigned.[6] Deon Swiggs, the other councillor in the Christchurch West/Ōpuna constituency, was elected as Pauling's deputy.[7]
It was announced on 1 August 2025 that Pauling would not contest the 2025 local elections.[8] In January 2026, Pauling was confirmed as the Green Party's candidate for the Banks Peninsula electorate in the 2026 general election.[9] He is ranked 12th on the Green Party's draft party list for the election.[10]
Personal life
Pauling is the father of three children.[1] He has won national and international waka ama (outrigger sea canoe) titles,[1][11] and can speak te reo Māori.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Harvie, Will (16 October 2024), "Environment Canterbury's new chairperson is Green, Ngāi Tahu and an Aranui graduate", The Press, retrieved 17 October 2024
- ^ Morton, Anthony (17 October 2019), Environment Canterbury 2019 Triennial Elections Declaration of Results (PDF), Environment Canterbury, retrieved 17 October 2024
- ^ Morton, Anthony (14 October 2024), Environment Canterbury 2012 Triennial Elections Declaration of Results, Environment Canterbury, retrieved 17 October 2024
- ^ a b "Councillors elect Peter Scott as Chair for new term", Environment Canterbury, 27 October 2022, retrieved 17 October 2024
- ^ Leask, Jonathan (22 July 2024), "ECan chairman Peter Scott to face council as his future is debated", NZ Herald, retrieved 17 October 2024
- ^ "Environment Canterbury chair Peter Scott resigns", RNZ, 26 September 2024, retrieved 17 October 2024
- ^ "Environment Canterbury votes in Craig Pauling as new chairperson", RNZ, 16 October 2024, retrieved 17 October 2024
- ^ McDonald, Liz (1 August 2025). "ECan chairman Craig Pauling to stand down". The Press. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Law, Tina. "Former ECan chair to contest Banks Peninsula". The Press. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ Ensor, Jamie (12 March 2026). "Election 2026: Green Party MPs suffer big drops in draft list, Tamatha Paul ranked high as party hypes Māori candidates". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ^ Cain, Fran (14 September 2022), "A gold medal 20 years in the making – Daily Encourager", Daily Encourager, retrieved 17 October 2024