Government budget and revenue in Southland, New Zealand: official figures
Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) had total operating income of NZ$51.5 million in the year ended June 2025 and total operating expenditure of NZ$50.9 million, an operating surplus of NZ$0.6 million. As a regional council it does not run local roads, water or rubbish services, which belong to the district and city councils in the region.
How much does Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) collect in rates?
Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) collected NZ$29.0 million in rates in the year ended June 2025, 56% of its operating income. That is NZ$277 for each resident of Southland (using the June 2025 population estimate), 8th lowest of 16 councils.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyIs the budget of Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) growing?
Operating income of Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) rose 1.5% from NZ$50.8 million in the year to June 2024 to NZ$51.5 million in the year to June 2025. Employee costs were NZ$22.4 million, 44% of operating expenditure.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much debt does Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) have?
Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) had term debt of NZ$0.0 million at June 2025, or NZ$0 per resident of Southland (the lowest of 16 councils). Its total assets were NZ$121 million and its equity NZ$104 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat does Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) spend money on?
The activities on which Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) spent most in the year ended June 2025 (operating expenditure) were environmental protection (NZ$25.9 million), planning and regulation (NZ$10.0 million), emergency management (NZ$1.5 million). Stats NZ allocates spending by activity, so costs that cannot be assigned to one activity sit under other categories.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much does Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) receive per resident?
Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) had operating income of NZ$491 per resident of Southland in the year ended June 2025, 6th lowest of 16 councils. Current grants and subsidies were NZ$1.7 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Southland compares with other regions
Council operating income, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Southland ranks 14 of 16, highest first. The regional council, or the unitary council where one council covers the whole region.
| Rank | Region | Council operating income, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$147m |
| 11 | Otago | NZ$135m |
| 12 | Manawatū-Whanganui | NZ$107m |
| 13 | Northland | NZ$91m |
| 14 | Southland | NZ$52m |
| 15 | Taranaki | NZ$51m |
| 16 | West Coast | NZ$22m |
Council rates per resident, year ended June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Southland ranks 9 of 16, highest first. Regional councils collect rates for regional functions only; unitary councils (Auckland, Gisborne, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough) also do district functions.
| Rank | Region | Council rates per resident, year ended June 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Wellington | NZ$467 |
| 7 | West Coast | NZ$341 |
| 8 | Canterbury | NZ$283 |
| 9 | Southland | NZ$277 |
| 10 | Northland | NZ$275 |
| 11 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$269 |
| 12 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$268 |
Council term debt per resident, June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Southland ranks 16 of 16, highest first. Regional councils collect rates for regional functions only; unitary councils also do district functions.
| Rank | Region | Council term debt per resident, June 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Otago | NZ$425 |
| 11 | Taranaki | NZ$357 |
| 12 | Northland | NZ$294 |
| 13 | Manawatū-Whanganui | NZ$205 |
| 14 | Canterbury | NZ$116 |
| 15 | Waikato | NZ$66 |
| 16 | Southland | NZ$0 |
Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Southland ranks 8 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Northland | NZ$6.5m |
| 6 | Otago | NZ$2.8m |
| 7 | Wellington | NZ$1.8m |
| 8 | Southland | NZ$0.6m |
| 9 | Nelson | NZ$-1.1m |
| 10 | Taranaki | NZ$-3.9m |
| 11 | Waikato | NZ$-4.0m |
More on Southland: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · New Zealand
Sources
- Stats NZ: Local authority financial statistics: Year ended June 2025 (income and expenditure, by activity, financial position; nalafs-jun2025-tables-csv.csv), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b12af625c966…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.