Queenstown resident Darren Rewi (Ngati Mamoe and Waitaha, Ngati Kahungungu ki Te Wairoa, Rongowhakaata, Ngati Porou) has announced he will stand for mayor of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).

He joins incumbent mayor Glyn Lewers, Shaping Our Future executive John Glover, and businessman Nik Kiddle in the mayoral race.

Darren (62), who has lived in the district for 32 years, has been involved in a wide range of community and governance roles.

“Enabling and empowering all communities from Makarora to Tahuna Glenorchy is a passion,” he said.

QLDC voters need to consider leadership, governance and engagement when they choose their mayor and councillors, Darren said.

He said he has over 20 years of senior level leadership and governance experience on local, regional and national boards, and has qualifications and experience in strategic and change management.

“Along with the wider Queenstown Lakes District community we the elected councillors need to come together to articulate a strategic vision for the next 30 years, not the next election cycle.” 

Darren said he supports “an open and transparent working relationship” between mayor and CEO, with a “no surprises” policy for the mayor and elected councillors.

“There has been a lack of accountability recently which has led to a removal of community support. The councillors and the staff need to focus on reducing costs that have ballooned beyond our need.”

He said there is “no point creating reviews and investigations; it’s obvious that there has been poor decision making and now its for the new council and mayor to create an expectation of accountability and that’s a conversation with the CEO”.

“We need to look forward and get moving: let’s revisit issues like single designated authority and what contractors are and are not adding value. If they are not, then they are gone. We need with urgency to reduce and remove our reliance on contractors.”

Darren said progress on the Regional Deal with central government comes with opportunities and expectations. 

The government wants to enable growth through productivity, but while Queenstown Lakes is projected to be the biggest population centre for Otago, its productivity rate is 10 percent lower than the rest of New Zealand, he said.

“When we work with developers and private investors, once due diligence is done and we agree to move forward, can we enable their projects; we need to unlock the bureaucracy for us to achieve.”

“Leadership is key”, he added.

Read more: Local ‘regional deal’ progresses to next stage

“Part of enabling the community is to utilise iwi and Maori business and the capability they have… The recent investment of Totara Energy to acquire 30 percent of Pioneer Energy is a great example of bringing the capability of nine iwi to the table for the benefit of New Zealand.”

As part of the Māori community Darren provided support to the wider community during the Covid-19 pandemic, from which the Mana Tahuna Charitable Trust emerged. Darren has been chair of the trust since it was founded in 2020.

He is a trustee of the Sky City Queenstown Community Foundation, vice chair of the Victim Support national board, a ministerial appointee on the board of Herenga a Nuku the Outdoor Access Commission, and Ngai Tahu ki Murihiku representative on the Otago Regional Council Upper Lakes Freshwater Catchment Working Group. 

Darren is also a local business owner (cultural support company Take Tuia), and was recently the vice chair of the Arts Culture and Heritage Strategy Committee. He was the mayoral appointee as chair of the Welcoming Communities Steering Group.

Darren has also been involved with Scouts, football, supporting schools, iwi roles, and contributed for nine years as a volunteer fire fighter. He has led the ongoing restoration of Waiwhakaata Lake Hayes. 

PHOTO: Supplied