Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chair Doug Leeder Steps Aside

Toi Moana – Bay of Plenty Regional Council will be looking for new leadership come October, after chair Doug Leeder announced he will not seek re-election at this year's local body elections. Leeder, who joined the regional council in 2013, said it is a good time to hand over to the next generation of leaders.

Leeder brought considerable governance experience to the role, having previously served 12 years as a councillor at Ōpōtiki District Council and 20 years in corporate governance in the dairy industry. He began his career in the police force and has since held a wide range of governance positions, including as a director of Port of Tauranga Ltd, independent committee chair at the Māori Land Court, and chair of the Local Government Regional Sector Group.

Local body elections are scheduled for 11 October 2025. Candidate nominations open on 4 July and close on 1 August, with voting documents posted out from 9 September. Preliminary results are expected shortly after voting closes at noon on 11 October. Further information is available at www.boprc.govt.nz.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).