The Southern Rural Fire Authority has a new chairman - Des Minehan, from Craigpine Ltd.

Principal Rural Fire Officer Mike Grant said the previous chairman, Southland District Council chief executive David Adamson, stood down at the last meeting of the year last week and his deputy, Mr Minehan, was elected.

Dave Taylor, of the Department of Conservation has been elected deputy chairman.

Mr Adamson said it was a good time to pass the reins over to Mr Minehan.

"I am now chair of the Combined Executive Group which is overseeing the amalgamation of Civil Defence in Southland and I have been chair for Rural Fire for six years, so it's the right time," he said.

Rural Fire is running well and is leading the way for other authorities and there is a depth of people on the southern board who are more than able to run it.

"I've really enjoyed it - Rural Fire is a really good example of shared services," Mr Adamson said.

Mr Minehan thanked Mr Adamson for the effort he had put in over the six years.

"It will be a new challenge for me, but it will be simply steady as we go," he said.

He believed the authority was working well and so did not foresee any changes.