Ko Ōtūmatua te maunga
Ko Huritini te awa
Ko Te Waihora te hāpua
Ko Whakaraupō te moana
Ko Te Ruahikihiki, ko Te Rakiwhakaputa, ko Tūrakautahi ōku tūpuna
Ko Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Mutunga ōku iwi
Nō Kōtimana, nō Ingarangi, nō Wēra ōku tūpuna pākehā
Ko Craig Pauling tōku ingoa
Kia ora I’m Craig,
Born and raised in Ōtautahi-Christchurch, I am a proud Ngāi Tahu Cantabrian and Pāpā to three young adults who both inspire and challenge me to improve the wellbeing and future of our home.
I have worked for, with and beside my iwi and local community for the past 30 years across governance, mahinga kai and pounamu protection, freshwater management, ecological restoration, and environmental policy and monitoring. I am known for leading with my values and for bringing people together around shared responsibility for people and place.
I am most proud of the kaupapa I have helped lead around large-scale restoration such as Te Ara Kākāriki and Te Kākahu Kahukura that aim to reconnect people to, and restore, native biodiversity across Waitaha-Canterbury.
I am an experienced governor, and my approach is focused on building collaboration, leading with values, and a strong emphasis on integrating manawhenua and community perspectives into decision making.
Up until October 2025, I was the Chair of the Canterbury Regional Council, the country’s biggest region – stretching from Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana-the Southern Alps to Te Tai o Mahaanui-the Canterbury Coast. As Chair I successfully led a politically diverse governance table that was responsible for taking care of 70% of New Zealand’s freshwater resources, and the 700,000 people who call Canterbury home.
I am committed to continuing to work with my community to deliver outcomes that matter – for this, and future generations.
