Resignation sparks by-election

Nominations will open this week to fill the vacant Arrowtown Ward seat on the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

The by-election was automatically triggered when Chief Executive Adam Feeley received Cr Lex Perkins’ resignation today.

The Local Electoral Act sets out the process to be followed, with a four week nomination period that will open this Thursday and close on 5 March.

Candidates must be nominated by at least two people who are on the Arrowtown Ward electoral roll. However, candidates themselves need not live within the ward.

At the same time, the electoral roll for the Arrowtown ward will be open for inspection from Thursday. Anyone living in the ward who is at least 18 years old is entitled to vote – those who are on the Parliamentary electoral roll are automatically enrolled.

Non-resident ratepayers who own property in the Arrowtown ward but live outside the Queenstown Lakes District are also entitled to enrol.

Further information about the election, including nomination forms, will be online at www.qldc.govt.nz on Thursday, as well as at the Queenstown and Arrowtown libraries and the QLDC office in Gorge Rd, Queenstown.

*** Additional Comment ***

Cr Lex Perkins has been a strong advocate for the community throughout his time on the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Mayor Vanessa van Uden said.

In a move signalled last year, Cr Perkins resigned today, effective immediately. He and his wife, Wendy, intend spending several years travelling around New Zealand and Australia.

Mayor van Uden paid tribute to Cr Perkins’ contribution, and his willingness to “get stuck in” and help the people he represented.

“We will miss Lex around the Council table. He always listened to his constituents and he represented their views with tolerance and good humour.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media