QLDC Mayoral candidates: getting down to the basics

by Peter Newport - Aug 17, 2022

Now that the competition for our new QLDC mayor is underway we thought the time was right to get right down to the basics with the candidates.

Two out of the six candidates did not reply by our deadline - but here's the replies from the four who did.

Our questions - like the rest of our election coverage - focussed on simple straightforward information.

Will the candidates work full time or part time, do they know the mayor's pay, what's their current job and do they live here in the district.

Here's their answers - exactly as received, in surname alphabetical order. The mayor's salary will increase to $143,000 after the election, but only Olivia Wensley got that answer correct.

Glyn Lewers

Do you know what the QLDC mayoral salary is (please supply the figure)?

Yes, $128,000.

If elected will you work full time or part time for that salary? How many hours based in the Mayoral office .. how many hours based at a local home/office .. how many hours based outside the district?

Full time, Standard working day usually in the office or out and about in the District as required. Only time out if the visit will be attending Local Government Business on behalf of the district, or holidays.

Will you live in the district full time or only part of the time (Queenstown or Wanaka)?

Live in my home here in Frankton, Queenstown.

What’s your current job - details please and whether full or part time?

Structural Engineer Full Time based in Frankton. Also a current QLDC Councillor.

Do you own a house or property in the QLDC rating area (and how many)?

Own one house in the district which I live in.

Jon Mitchell

Do you know what the QLDC mayoral salary is (please supply the figure)?

Not something I have paid much attention to, so I had to confirm it. $128,000

I have worked with mayors in 8 different countries and throughout New Zealand over the past 20-plus years. The demands of a mayor in a district like this are significant, with the mayor having to often work more than fulltime. Something I am very comfortable with. The amount of time in the office will vary a lot. I have seen the impact of mayors who spend too much time "Working in the business, rather than working on the business", so will avoid that. I expect to normally be in the office about 20 hours a week, on top of attending meetings in the community, with other community leaders, at regional meetings - of which there are many, as well as meetings in Wellington and further afield occasionally. Easily adding up to more than fulltime.

My family and I will be living full-time in the district, my home.

What’s your current job - details please and whether full or part time?

I am currently working remotely fulltime from Queenstown, like thousands of others, as capability development manager for the Joint Centre of Disaster Research, at Massey University in Wellington. Mostly with government agencies, predominantly the National Emergency Management Agency and other agencies. I am also co-chair of NZ Natural Hazards Inc, a consortium of private sector entities, crown research institutes, and universities, delivering disaster risk management and emergency management services into the Pacific and beyond. As well as being a member of the board of Queenstown Lakes own, and expanding, Shaping Our Future.

Do you own a house or property in the QLDC rating area (and how many)?

Although my wider family does own property in the district, and my wife and I have owned a couple here ourselves, we don't at present. We are renting a home in Arrowtown now and are looking to buy a small, efficient, low-energy, home in the Frankton area. If you know of one, please let us know!

Neeta Shetty

Do you know what the QLDC mayoral salary is (please supply the figure)?

I looked it up after your question. It is $128,000 per annum. I vaguely knew that but had to re-check.

I will work full time and put in the hours needed. I do not believe the Mayor’s job should be bound by a preconceived set of hours and certainly shouldn’t be measured on an hourly basis. I am confident of my time-management skills. For me, it is about being effective in a timely manner, not about quantifying my hours spent.

Will you live in the district full time or only part of the time (Queenstown or Wanaka)?

Yes, I will live in the district full time.

What’s your current job - details please and whether full or part time?

I work fulltime as a business owner, parent and an active member of our community. I have two restaurants and a grocery store.

Do you own a house or property in the QLDC rating area (and how many)?

I own one house in Queenstown.

Olivia Wensley

Do you know what the QLDC mayoral salary is (please supply the figure)?

Yes - under the new renumeration for 2022/23 (as of 1July 2022) the Mayoral salary is $143,734.

I will work full time - but the reality is, this isn't a 9-5 role. The job is 365 days a year.

This is not a "part time" role. I don't think a Mayor should have any other roles outside of being Mayor - the region deserves 100% commitment.

As Mayor, wherever you are, in whatever capacity, you are a public figure and the representative of our region.

I will spend approximately half the time physically in the Council Chambers office at Gorge Road, the rest of the time I will be having meetings with community members throughout the regions that make up the Queenstown Lakes District.

Will you live in the district full time or only part of the time (Queenstown or Wanaka)?

Full time in Queenstown.

What’s your current job - details please and whether full or part time?

At the moment I'm focusing seriously on the campaign, so only doing a few admin hours a week as CEO of Startup Queenstown Lakes.

Prior to the campaign I was working close to full time.

Do you own a house or property in the QLDC rating area (and how many)?

Yes - I own a section on Queenstown Hill.

My husband's company owns three other properties on Frankton Road jointly with business partners.