Final candidates for the October local body elections have now been confirmed and they include fresh faces as well as long-standing representatives.

The final lineup offers a real choice for the Upper Clutha in district councillors, community board members, and regional councillors. 

Nine candidates for Wānaka Ward, QLDC

Last minute nominations took the number of people running for the Wānaka Ward of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) to nine, competing for just four seats.

They are the four incumbents (Quentin Smith, Lyal Cocks, Barry Bruce, and Cody Tucker), and incumbent Queenstown-Whakatipu Ward councillor Niki Gladding - who is now a resident of Wānaka. 

The councillors have been joined by four more candidates: long term Wānaka resident and business owner Craig Gasson, long term Hāwea resident and community volunteer Yeverley McCarthy, Wānaka-raised environmental advocate Nicola King, and global restaurant chain CMO Thorsk Westphal.

Yeverley, who has been active in a wide range of community groups from Plunket to boards of trustees and the Wānaka Community Hub, says she offers “a pragmatic approach… to deliver the basics well and within budget and to ensure that we keep our rates under control”. 

Nicola - who was born and raised in Wānaka and has a Masters in Sustainable Business - says she “cares deeply about the people and environment that make this place special”, and believes “council should reflect the voices of the families, workers, and everyday people who live here”.

Thorsk says he has lived in Wānaka “off and on for the last 30 years”, and his skills from more than 20 years in the corporate world enable him to “manage existing resources efficiently and for maximum impact”.

Read more: Wānaka businessman Craig Gasson announces council bid

Six candidates for four seats on Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board

There are also more candidates (six) than seats (four) for the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board.

Incumbents Simon Telfer, John Wellington, Chris Hadfield, and Linda Joll have been joined by Wānaka governance professional Kathy Dedo, and newcomer to Wānaka John Bache, an international business strategist and long-time action sports advocate.

ORC: Seven candidates for four seats

There are seven candidates for four spots on Otago Regional Council’s (ORC) Dunstan constituency: incumbents Michael Laws and Gary Keliher, Central Otago District councillor Neil Gillespie, Nicky Rhodes of Wānaka, Matt Hollyer and Ben Farrell of Queenstown, and Amie Pont of Ranfurly.

New faces for ORC: Nicky Rhodes (top left), Amie Pont (top right), Matt Hollyer (bottom left), Ben Farrell (bottom right).

Neil, who is based in Alexandra, is the current deputy mayor of Central Otago District.

Nicky, Gary and Michael are part of ‘Vision Otago,’ which Gary described as “a loose group of like-minded thinkers… all about saving the ORC from itself”.

Gary said the group was not a political alignment, but went on to say “ORC staff are just so aligned with the previous government, and now the ORC has attracted nationwide attention, something has to be done”.

Matt Hollyer, who has lived in Queenstown for 29 years, has had a long career in tourism and conservation and years of community volunteering.

Ben Farrell is the owner and director of Cue Environmental Ltd, an independent planning consultancy in Queenstown.

Find information about all the candidates at the Wānaka App’s ‘Election 2025’ button.

Voting papers will be delivered to all enrolled voters between Tuesday September 9 and Monday September 22, with voting open through until midday on Saturday October 11. 

PHOTOS: Supplied