Recruitment will begin this week for an independent board of directors for the new body created to deliver water services in the district.

Earlier this year Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillors approved establishment of the board for the district’s new and controversial water services delivery model - a Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO).

QLDC CCO programme director Maseina Koneferenisi said the council will initially be recruiting for the position of board chair for the WSCCO.

“The new WSCCO is working to an official go live date of 1 July 2027,” she said. 

“A critical aspect of that is the recruitment of a professional independent board, starting with the chair. The board will be responsible for shaping the establishment of this new entity and have accountability for its governance.”

Read more: Planning begins for new water services entity

Last year councillors were split on whether to retain water services in-house or undertake a major overhaul of water delivery by establishing a WSCCO, but former mayor Glyn Lewers used his casting vote to push through the latter - which will see water services owned by the council.

Maseina said the chair will lead the process of setting vision and strategy, shaping governance systems, recruiting the chief executive and board members, overseeing risk, assurance and performance, and setting the culture of the organisation.

Extensive governance experience in highly regulated and complex high-risk sectors – ideally involving large infrastructure, commercial entities – will be a focus for the recruitment panel, she said.

Having an affinity for the region will also be important.

“This is a legacy role,” Maseina said, with the first chair “instrumental in building a new organisation that will serve one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most distinctive communities for generations”. 

Five directors will be appointed for an initial term of three years with one right of renewal, with staged reappointment provisions to ensure continuity and stability.

Find more information, including a candidate briefing document and applications, here.

PHOTOS: Supplied