It's now a three-way race for mayor
Nik Kiddle has announced he'll run for mayor of Queenstown Lakes in the elections later this year.
The former owner of Villa Del Lago was last in the frame back in 2019, when he ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Jim Boult, on a platform of opposing Boult's bed tax proposal.
Kiddle, part of a tax equity lobby group, said the levy would have disastrous consequences for accommodation providers. He wanted a share of GST returned to Queenstown Lakes District Council instead, an idea which was also promoted by Act Party leader David Seymour during his recent General Election campaign.
This time around, Kiddle will face-off against incumbent Glyn Lewers and Kinloch Wilderness Retreat owner John Glover, who led community group Shaping Our Future until recently.
Kiddle is encouraging Queenstowners to "Embrace the Vision, Fix our Broken Council and Tick Nik".
"It’s time for big improvements," he says, "and that starts at the top. New leadership is vital to rebuild a trusted well functioning team.
"The Mayor must return to forging consensus among elected representatives and opening up the council’s administration to community led views. No more back room deals, no more selling out to drive corporate profits."
He believes transparency and information sharing must become the new norm, while care with ratepayers’ money must dominate decision making.
While council rates have been increasing, including a record 15.8% average last year, Kiddle says there's a deterioration in the quality of life here.
"This council has got us into a great deal of trouble over sewage, transport and housing. Productivity is suffering. Neighbourhoods and the environment are suffering. All these issues need fresh leadership to drive improved outcomes."
He also wants an improvement in the relationship with Central Government, and in transport planning, while he's still opposing now-Lewers' bed tax "pipe dream of new law so council can tax business turnover".
"We can do way better. The best strategy to improve our council is to vote for change and Tick Nik."
Local body elections will take place from September 22, 2025.
