Former Otago regional councillor and journalist, writer Neville Peat, has announced he plans to stand for the city council this election.

Peat has worked voluntarily for the Orokonui Ecosanctuary trust board, the DCC Harbour Cone/Hereweka Steering Group and the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Trust.

He said this morning the council had plenty of debt, and plenty of challenges on economic, social and environmental fronts.