Simon Hayes

Mayoral elections in Otago's "heartland" this year have attracted 14 candidates. The Otago Daily Times today continues its series profiling those candidates, with reporter Ellie Constantine putting the questions to Queenstown Lakes district hopeful Simon Hayes

Queenstown's three mayoral candidates are unimpressed with the council's projected debt level of more than $400 million in the next nine years and say a harder line needs to be taken on spending.

The three mayoral candidates for the Queenstown Lakes District Council were in a collegial and relaxed mood at yesterday's public forum jointly hosted by the Wanaka Chamber of Commerce and the Otago Daily Times.

Queenstown Lakes District voters have a choice of three mayoral candidates this year.