Neil Wyeth FCA AAMINZ:  I am a professional arbitrator and mediator for commercial and farming disputes, an active business mentor, and a member of the Institute of Directors of NZ. In October 2009, I completed a 9 year term as a trustee, and chair of the Finance Committee, of the Community Trust of Southland. Prior to that, I had 30+ years experience, as a partner in a firm of chartered accountants, and, as such, provided advice and support for a wide range of Southland businesses. I have, also, over the years, taken leadership roles in local community organizations including YMCA, Southland Competitions Society, Southland Rugby Union, U3A Southland and the Anglican Church. I am a born and bred Southlander, keenly interested in the local environment, and, given the opportunity, will work to ensure that Environment Southland is efficient, and is always accountable to the people of Invercargill, and Southland, for its actions.

Top 5 Issues

1. Protect the Southland Environment
2. Ensure that the development of Southland's vast mineral resources happens in an environmently friendly way
3. Educate the community about Environment Southland's role
4. Ensure that the board makes management accountable for costs
5. Review polivies regularly and ensure that their implemenation is reported, to the board, on a regular basis

Personal Profile

There is a need to have people with wide commercial experience, particularly in how boards should operate and in how  boards and management interface or relate to each other. My experience as a director for many companies over the years  equips me well for this and will be invaluable during my time on Environment Southland! If that experience is not on boards then,  inevitably, boards end up being a "rubber stamp" for the decisions of management.

The 30+ years I was a partner in a firm of chartered accountants, supporting a wide range of clients, particularly in the  fishing and farming industries but also   manufacturers exporters and small to medium sized businesses in many other fields,  gives me a real understanding of the opportunities and challenges people in business face and this, too, is something I can bring  to the table of Environment Southland.

A born and bred Southlander living in the Invercargill Rakiura constituency equips me well to represent the people here.  I will listen to and communicate their concerns and will always be mindful of the need to preserve the environment we live in.   Nevertheless we do need to grow our business opportunities and jobs for our people which will mean that our huge mineral reserves will need to be developed, in the coming years-- I will not approach that opportunity with a closed or prejudiced mind as some will, but, by the token will work very hard to ensure that any developments only happen, if they can happen in an environmentally friendly way.

We need to have a wide range of abilities and interests represented on our board which is why, for this organization it is essential that e.g. both farmers environmentalists are there but others also need to be there-- I will therefore add strength to the board because there will be no-one else there with the bredth and knowledge of commercial affairs and "governance" (how boards work) that I have.