Water issues and a love of the work are the main reasons the majority of Otago Regional councillors plan to stand again in the October local body elections.
Nine of 10 councillors spoken to by the Otago Daily Times either confirmed their intention to stand or said it was likely they would.
Chairman Stephen Cairns has already confirmed he will not be standing in October and Cr Bryan Scott, who is in his second term, would only say he was reviewing and reflecting on "a number of options".
Two of the council's first-term councillors, David Shepherd and Sam Neill, said they would stand again as they felt they had spent most of the term "learning the ropes" and wanted to put that knowledge to good use with another term.
The third first-term councillor, Gerry Eckhoff, said he was "likely to throw his hat in the ring" again to ensure the "voice of the hinterland" was heard.
The council's longest-standing councillors, Louise Croot and Duncan Butcher, first elected to the regional council in 1989, intended to stand again; Cr Croot to see through the changes being made in consent processes and Cr Butcher to deal with the water quality and quantity issues.
Deputy chairman Stephen Woodhead, who was in his second term, said he enjoyed being part of the team and had some unfinished work to do with water quality.
Dunedin councillor Gretchen Robertson, in her second term, confirmed she would also stand to continue the work council was doing on water quality to "ensure we get it right".
Cr Michael Deaker said unless something "untoward" happened, he would stand again for his fourth term.
"I like it, I like what it does and what it achieves. It's an important thing to do."
Moeraki councillor Doug Brown, in his fourth term, said he would stand again as there was unfinished business such as finding an affordable office building and water quality.
