The mayors of Invercargill, Waitaki, Gore, Clutha, Central Otago and the Southland district, as well as Environment Southland’s chairman, have all indicated they will again run for their jobs.
But three, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult and Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead say they are yet to make up their minds.
Local government elections are held every three years, the next election being on October 12 next year.
Nominations open on July 19, and voting documents will be delivered to households from September 20.
Mr Cull said he was yet to decide if he would run for a fourth term and would probably not make his mind up for several months.
Mr Cull is also Local Government New Zealand president.
An LGNZ spokesman said if Mr Cull chose not to stand he would maintain his position as LGNZ president until the organisation’s next general meeting in July 2020.
Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt cited the "numerous achievements" in his latest term.
Those included the survival of the Southern Institute of Technology’s zero-fees scheme and the redevelopment of Invercargill Airport, though the most significant achievement was a population increase, he said.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said his area had a positive momentum, and was still growing. He would run again to keep that going, he said.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said he would stand in 2019 as there was plenty happening in his area, and he wanted to see further improvements to amenities and council services.
Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks said he would run as there was "much good work going on around economic and social capacity currently that I’d like to continue to be a part of".
Southland Mayor Gary Tong said he
had unfinished business and wanted to take care of it before he stood down.
Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead said he was undecided, as "I usually wait until after Christmas for those kinds of decisions".
Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell said he planned to stand again.
He said it was important to have continuity during the development of the region’s water and land plan.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan confirmed he would run again, while Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult said he was undecided.
Of the councils, Queensland Lakes and the Otago Regional Council had the most undecided councillors, both with nine.
Only seven councillors across the 10 councils had decided not to stand again.
