Is it time for Queenstown's unelected mayor to step out of the shadows?

Analysis. Peter Newport.

For many years Crux has been curious as to who really has the power in Queenstown - and how that power is used both in public and private domains.

For almost the same amount of time the name Richard Thomas keeps cropping up.

He’s the son of Barry Thomas (for 33 years the Chairman of Skyline Enterprises) and is following in his father’s footsteps as a director of the company. At $61 million company profit in 2025, and a valuation close to $1 billion, money won’t be a problem for Richard and his family.

He’s also the Chairman of Destination Queenstown that runs our local tourism industry. Here’s how his DQ profile reads:

“Richard was born in Queenstown and lived here most of his life. He has a strong governance background and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.

Richard has been heavily involved in the Queenstown Lakes District business community with a deep level of experience in media, marketing, branding and tourism.

He is the former publisher of Mountain Scene newspaper and his previous governance roles include; board member and president of the New Zealand Community Newspapers Association, independent director and chairman of Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, board member, deputy chairman and chairman of Queenstown Chamber of Commerce.

Richard’s current governance roles include; director of Skyline Enterprises and director and chairman of a number of Skyline’s International Luge subsidiaries, director of Bookme, and appointed board member of Snow Sports New Zealand.

Richard firmly believes good governance forms the foundation of great organisations. He is passionate about the Queenstown Lakes Region.”

OK. So there’s one undeclared governance role that is not included in Richard’s DQ profile.

Managing the democratically elected QLDC mayor and councillors. Or trying to. Behind the scenes - in the shadows.

Most observers of our local council had a strong view that Glyn Lewers was being groomed to be mayor during his term as a councillor. Groomed by Jim Boult - and almost certainly - groomed and supported by the “Queenstown business community” - or to be more specific, Richard Thomas. After all, Richard probably has more to gain financially from tourism, and Queenstown, going his way than any other individual.

During this year’s local elections Richard Thomas did not try very hard to stay in the shadows. He was Glyn Lewers’ number one cheerleader and the key figure in an aggressive, sometimes abusive, campaign to re-elect Mayor Lewers.

That campaign failed, with the big community issues being a lack of trust and transparency.

Now is the perfect time for Richard (or whoever replaces him) - and the business community - to come clean. Lobby openly - through the Chamber of Commerce - with a clear mandate from the entire business community. State your case clearly. Profit is not a dirty word. Own the argument. Be accountable.

Most locals want to be proud of our tourism industry - we just don’t want to pay for it. Nor should we. And we also want to see some business minded intelligence around growth, the environment and infrastructure. Not rocket science.

Plus, we want to see openness and accountability.

What we do not want to see is the likes of Mr Thomas behaving like the British Royal Family trying to “give things a good quiet nudge” behind the scenes. Thankfully we don’t yet have a social class system in New Zealand where the Upper Classes behave with universal and unbridled arrogance and entitlement.

Crux is ready to do our bit in supporting the business community now that we have a more transparent, democratic and open council.

But please Business Community, elect a new spokesperson who can respect democracy and identify with the majority of local residents. They are also your very best customers.

The community is ready to work with big business …. but needs to know that big business is ready to work with the community.

It really is that simple.