James (Jim) Boult (CNZM) has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to local government, tourism and the community in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list.

The former Queenstown Lakes District mayor has led and advocated across a range of roles and organisations over a 40-year period.

He was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015.

Jim was elected as mayor in 2016 and re-elected in 2019. In April 2022 he confirmed he would not stand for re-election later that year. 

During his five-and-a-half years in the role of mayor he led a series of projects to bolster the district.

They included an initiative to provide affordable homes; a $2 bus transport scheme; a government working party for freedom camping; a bed tax proposal as a solution for funding the infrastructure needs of 3M+ visitors per year; and other infrastructure and transport changes. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic he led the implementation of funding and support for migrants without homes or work; establishment of the Queenstown Greater Needs fund for the medical needs of migrants; and the the Economic Recovery and District Diversification taskforces.

Jim also worked with central government on initiating shovel-ready projects and establishing the Major Events fund, and chaired the Otago Lifelines Programme for natural disaster readiness and the Metro Mayors section of local government. 

Jim is a patron of the Child Cancer Foundation, Whakatipu Wildlife Trust and Whakatipu Rowing Club, and the chair of the Canterbury Museum Working Party.

This is the first time appointments have been made to the “King’s Service Order” (formerly the Queen’s Service Order), acknowledging the new sovereign.

PHOTO: QLDC