At the local level, South Canterbury is administered by the Canterbury Regional Council and four District Councils: Timaru, Mackenzie, Waimate, and Waitaki, the latter of which also includes a portion of North Otago. At the national level, most of South Canterbury's rural area is covered, along with much of North Otago, by the Waitaki electorate.
At the local level, South Canterbury is governed by the Canterbury Regional Council and four District Councils: Timaru, Mackenzie, Waimate, and Waitaki, with the latter also encompassing a portion of North Otago. At the national level, most of South Canterbury's rural area, along with much of North Otago, is covered by the Waitaki electorate.