Rob Scott

Rob is currently serving as Mayor of Southland. Twenty years ago, while working in Wellington's corporate sector, a career in local government wasn't something he imagined for himself, but he wouldn't trade it for anything.

After moving to Lumsden in 2006 to establish a business with his wife, Rob became deeply involved in his community, serving as Chair of the Lumsden Community Board for 3 terms before being elected to Southland District Council in 2019 and Mayor in 2022.

Rob is passionate about the critical role infrastructure plays in supporting communities, businesses and economic growth. As Mayor, he helps oversee more than $2 billion worth of council infrastructure, including New Zealand's second-largest local roading network after Auckland.

He has become a passionate advocate for fair and equitable roading funding, arguing that Southland has not received their fair share of investment for many years despite playing a critical role in powering New Zealand's economy. "Roads are the arteries of our economy. If we're serious about regional growth and national productivity, we need a funding system that recognises the importance of rural New Zealand and invests accordingly."

Rob enjoys tackling the challenges of infrastructure, growth and resilience while ensuring Southland remains a great place to live, work and do business.