NZ Local Elections 2025

Queenstown-Lakes District Council

Queenstown-Whakatipu Ward
The Queenstown-Lakes District Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also makes decisions about building and planning, local regulations, and infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage. The council is made up of 11 councillors and the mayor. Councillors are elected to represent wards (areas in the district). four councillors will be elected from the Queenstown-Whakatipu ward. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Queenstown-Lakes District Council election.

Candidates

Policies

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Gavin Bartlett

Gavin Bartlett

Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell

Independent

Rene Smith

Rene Smith

Matt Wong

Matt Wong

Independent

Stephen Brent

Stephen Brent

Craig 'Ferg' Ferguson

Craig 'Ferg' Ferguson

Aaron Cowie

Aaron Cowie

Independent

Aaron Cowie

Independent

Aaron Cowie

Independent

Why I'm standing

I asked our current councillors to explain why we have double digit rate increases and I was unsatisfied with the answers I was getting. I felt that there had been a lot of wasted money and general lack of oversight.

About me

I was born in Winton and brought up on a multi-generational farm. I attained a Bachelor of Science at Otago University and a scholarship with Tiwai Smelter. I then spent 30 years in Europe working for banks such as UBS and Investec and other large financial companies. This has given me the depth in finance and controls required. Europe has shown me many similar towns that have solved many of the problems faced here.

My priorities
  1. Get the council functional with the right controls and visibility.
  2. Fix the housing problems. Hotels are for visitors and houses are for homes.
  3. Fix the congestion and parking issues by removing visitor vehicle journeys into Queenstown.
Before politics

Design and Build IT systems

Residence

Fernhill

Age

58

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Why I'm standing

I asked our current councillors to explain why we have double digit rate increases and I was unsatisfied with the answers I was getting. I felt that there had been a lot of wasted money and general lack of oversight.

About me

I was born in Winton and brought up on a multi-generational farm. I attained a Bachelor of Science at Otago University and a scholarship with Tiwai Smelter. I then spent 30 years in Europe working for banks such as UBS and Investec and other large financial companies. This has given me the depth in finance and controls required. Europe has shown me many similar towns that have solved many of the problems faced here.

My priorities
  1. Get the council functional with the right controls and visibility.
  2. Fix the housing problems. Hotels are for visitors and houses are for homes.
  3. Fix the congestion and parking issues by removing visitor vehicle journeys into Queenstown.
Before politics

Design and Build IT systems

Residence

Fernhill

Age

58

Connect via

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