Queenstown Lakes deputy mayor Calum MacLeod has announced he's not seeking re-election.

Speaking at the Wānaka Community Board (WCB) meeting this morning (Thursday August 4), the Wānaka councillor confirmed he won't stand for another term.

"It is about time I said publicly, I will not be standing for election this time around and will not be seeking re-election," Calum said.

"Councillors do have a shelf life. I think I'm still inside my due date, but I'd like to think that somebody else will eventually stick their hand up and away we go." 

Including three years spent on the Wānaka Community Board (WCB), Calum has served for 12 years, which he said was “probably enough”.

More than half the serving councillors have now taken themselves out of the running, along with mayor Jim Boult, who's standing down after two terms.

Calum joins councillors Penny Clark, Val Miller, Niamh Shaw (Wānaka) and Glyn Lewers in confirming they won't run, while Arrowtown councillor Heath Copland is expected to step down as well.

Councillors Esther Whitehead, Niki Gladding and Craig 'Ferg' Ferguson, Quentin Smith (Wānaka) and newcomers Lisa Guy and Cody Tucker (Wānaka) are so far the only people to step forward for the 11 council seats. 

There are four people in the running to be mayor: Olivia Wensley, Glyn Lewers, Al Angus and Jon Mitchell. 

Three people have put their names forward for four available WCB seats - newcomer Simon Telfer and serving members Chris Hadfield and Barry Bruce (chair) - and the Wānaka App has been advised that Linda Joll also plans to submit a nomination this week.

Wanaka’s current elected members (L-R) Barry Bruce (WCB chair), Chris Hadfield (WCB), Niamh Shaw (QLDC councillor), Quentin Smith (QLDC councillor), Ed Taylor (WCB), Jude Battson (WCB) and Calum MacLeod (QLDC councillor and deputy mayor). 

Departing WCB member Ed Taylor urged more community members to put themselves forward.

“It’s not as onerous as some people may think but it’s really interesting,” he said. “There’s a lot of work that goes on in the background.”

He did issue one disclaimer: “If you like getting your own way anytime then this gig is probably not for you.”

The WCB narrowly avoided disbandment last year following a representation review which initially recommended its disestablishment but, in the end, Wānaka representation was bolstered with the addition of one more seat on council and retention of the four members.

As Quentin pointed out, the future of some of those seats is put into question if more people don’t come forward for nomination.

"At this point, we don't have an election on our hands, because we don't have enough candidates, so we desperately want to see a strong democratic election in our community, and we want to see people standing up from the community to represent the people that live here and the ratepayers around all the important work that goes on in council.”

Electoral officer Jane Robertson warned that the August 12 midday deadline for nominations would be “strictly observed” and advised anyone planning to run to get their paperwork sorted by early next week.

PHOTOS: QLDC