Craig Pauling is a Canterbury regional politician, currently serving as Chair of Environment Canterbury (ECan) [13][15].
According to a single reputable secondary source, Pauling holds a degree in Environmental Management [9] and has worked in roles including Environmental Consultant [1], Māori Research Advisor [2], and environmental scientist [3]. He was also listed as a seminar speaker at a Lincoln University braided rivers seminar in 2025 [4].
Pauling was first elected as a member of Environment Canterbury in 2019, representing the Christchurch West/Ōpuna constituency [20][23]. He has served as an elected councillor on the council [19] and, according to a single reputable secondary source, previously held the role of Deputy Chair of Environment Canterbury before assuming the chair [18]. He became Chair of Environment Canterbury on 16 October 2024 [13][15].
In addition to his role on the council, Pauling is, according to single reputable secondary sources, a member of the Canterbury Mayoral Forum [5], a member of the Regional Transport Committee [6], a member of the Regional Water Committee [7], and a qualified Resource Management Act commissioner [8].
Pauling is an affiliate of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand [24][25]. He is also associated, according to a single reputable secondary source, with The People's Choice [26]. He has been listed as a candidate for the Banks Peninsula electorate, with one source referencing a 2026 candidacy [10][11]. A single reputable secondary source also lists a claim that he has served as a Member of Parliament [22], though this has not been independently verified. According to a single reputable secondary source, he appeared on the ballot for the Banks Peninsula electorate [10].