Council Committees and Community Board Structure

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has the important job of making decisions alongside and on behalf of the people living in this district. Specifically, we are responsible for:

• Community well-being and development.

• Environmental health and safety. (building control, civil defence, and environmental health)

• Managing infrastructure. (roading and transport, sewerage, water and stormwater)

• Facilitating recreation and culture.

• Resource management including land use planning and development control.

The Council consists of the Mayor, four Queenstown-Whakatipu ward Councillors, three  Arrowtown-Kawarau ward Councillors, and four Wānaka-Upper Clutha ward Councillors.

The Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board is not a committee of Council but a separate unincorporated body established under Section 49 of the Local Government Act 2002. The role of the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board is to represent and act as an advocate for the Wānaka and wider Upper Clutha community. The Council has given extensive delegation to the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board to make decisions on many of the facilities and services located within the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Ward.

Community Board elected members are: Linda Joll, Chris Hadfield, Simon Telfer and John Wellington.

Community Board appointed members are: Barry Bruce, Lyal Cocks, Cody Tucker

The Chair of the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board is Simon Telfer

The Deputy Chair is Chris Hadfield

Meeting Schedule 

The 'Share with Us' sessions have been held every 8 weeks throughout 2024. There’s one final session for the year on Wednesday 6 November at Pāetara Aspiring Central from 12.00pm-1.00pm.

These sessions provide an invaluable opportunity for direct communication with elected members.

The 2025 calendar will be available in January, but you can also catch us at one of our Summer BBQs in Wānaka—more details coming soon.

The Arrowtown Kawarau Ward Councillors are dedicated representatives of the Queenstown district community, here to listen and act on your behalf. The role of the councillors is to advocate for the interests and needs of the Arrowtown Kawarau Ward, ensuring your voice is heard in council decisions.

Your local elected members are:

• Lisa Guy
• Melissa White
• Craig Ferguson (commonly known as Ferg)

Meeting Schedule

The 'Share with Us' sessions are held on the last Friday of each month from 11.00am-12.00pm at the Arrowtown Library.

• Friday 29 November

These meetings provide an invaluable opportunity for direct communication with your councillors. It’s a chance to discuss current consultations, give feedback, ask questions, and connect over a friendly chat with coffee and treats supplied.

Everyone is welcome to come along and join the conversation.

The objective of the Planning & Strategy Committee is to recommend strategies, plans and policies that advance the Council’s vision and goals for the district and ensure integrated and sustainable management of the natural and physical resources of the district in accordance with the Resource Management Act 1991.

Committee Members are:

• Councillor Cocks (Chair)

• Councillor Smith (Deputy)

• Councillor Bartlett

• Councillor Bruce

• Councillor White

• Councillor Wong

The objective of the Infrastructure Committee is to review strategy and policy for the Council’s infrastructure.

Committee Members are:

• Councillor Bartlett (Chair)

• Councillor Gladding (Deputy)

• Councillor Cocks

• Councillor Ferguson

• Councillor Smith

• Councillor Tucker

The objective of the Community & Services Committee is to review strategy and policy essential to the development of resilient, successful, healthy and safe communities.

Committee Members are:

• Councillor Ferguson (Chair)

• Councillor Whitehead (Deputy)

• Councillor Bruce

• Councillor Guy

• Councillor Tucker

• Councillor Wong

The objectives of the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee are to assist the Council to discharge its responsibilities for:

• the robustness of the internal control framework and financial management practices;

• the integrity and appropriateness of internal and external reporting and accountability arrangements;

• the robustness of risk management systems, processes and practices;

• compliance with applicable laws, regulations, standards and best practice guidelines; and

• the establishment and maintenance of controls to safeguard the Council's financial and nonfinancial assets.

Committee members are:

• Mr Stuart McLauchlan (Chair)

• Mr Heath Copland (Deputy Chair)

• Mr Bill Moran

• Councillor Cocks

• Councillor Gladding

• Councillor Guy

The objectives of the Chief Executive Performance Committee are to monitor, review and report back to Council on the Chief Executive's Performance Objectives and Performance Review.

Committee Members are:

• Mayor Lewers

• Councillor Cocks

• Councillor Guy

The objectives of the Governance Subcommittee are to provide prompt authoritative recommendations on the recruitment and selection of directors to Council controlled organisations and Council controlled trading organisations.

Committee Members are:

• Mayor Lewers

• Councillor Smith

• Chief Executive Mike Theelen

The District Licensing Committee will consider and determine all applications (opposed and unopposed) for new and renewal licences and manager’s certificates, temporary authorities and special licences under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

Committee Members are: Lyal Cocks, Christopher Cooney, Ian Cooney, Neil Gillespie, John Mann, Philip Jones and Brett Pay.