Who's in the frame?
It's a bloke-dominated run for mayor this time around.
When nominations closed on Friday, six men had put themselves forward to be the next mayor of Queenstown Lakes. Incumbent Glyn Lewers will face off against Al Angus, John Glover, Nik Kiddle, Darren Rewi, and Daniel Shand.
Lewers has served one term as mayor, having previously been a councillor after winning a coin-toss due to a dead heat with AJ Mason, demonstrating the power of every single vote. He then garnered 4,382 votes to take the chains in 2022.
Kiddle ran against incumbent Jim Boult back in 2019, gaining 3,999 votes. Angus has stood for mayor four times before, his no-nonsense approach failing to win over voters, while Glover has sought election as a councillor three times, also unsuccessfully. Shand ran last time around, garnering just 201 votes.
Rewi, one of Central Otago’s most senior kaumātua, is the newcomer, but also a well known local.
There are 16 roles available on Queenstown Lakes District Council, including the mayoral seat, 11 councillor positions and four Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board seats.
All will be contested. There are 21 candidates for the councillor seats and six for the community board. Only Esther Whitehead from the current crop of councillors is not seeking re-election.
"We have a great mix of experienced councillors seeking re-election this term and fresh faces bringing new perspectives," council CEO Mike Theelen says.
"That level of interest and engagement is good news for our community and local democracy."
They have their work cut out - new Government figures show QLDC has by far the highest debt to revenue ratio of any council in New Zealand, standing at 271.9%.
Voting papers will be delivered in September, with voting open until midday on Saturday, 11 October.
Candidates for the position of Mayor (1 seat):
ANGUS, Al
GLOVER, John
KIDDLE, Nik (Independent)
LEWERS, Glyn
REWI, Darren
SHAND, Daniel (Independent (Direct Democracy)
Candidates for the Arrowtown-Kawarau Ward (3 seats):
BELK, Q (Samuel)
COPLAND, Heath
GUY, Lisa
MANNING, Tim
WHITE, Melissa
Candidates for the Queenstown-Whakatipu Ward (4 seats):
BARTLETT, Gavin
BRENT, Stephen
COWIE, Aaron (Independent)
FERGUSON, Craig 'Ferg'
MITCHELL, Jon (Independent)
SMITH, Rene
WONG, Matt (Independent)
Candidates for the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Ward (4 seats):
BRUCE, Barry
COCKS, Lyal
GASSON, Craig
GLADDING, Niki (Independent)
KING, Nicola
MCCARTHY, Yeverley
SMITH, Quentin
TUCKER, Cody
WESTPHAL, Dr. Thorsk G
Candidates for the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board (4 seats):
BACHE, John (Independent)
DEDO, Kathy
HADFIELD, Chris
JOLL, Linda
TELFER, Simon
WELLINGTON, John
