Twenty-two people are standing for the Central Lakes Trust, up from eight three years ago.
They are contesting six seats. Those standing are Graeme Bell, of Alexandra, Karin Bowen, of Alexandra, Nick Brown, of Wanaka, Lyal Cocks, of Wanaka, Peter Dowling, of Clyde, Sir Eion Edgar, of Queenstown, John Huddleston, of Wanaka, Alex Huffadine, of Cromwell, Bernie Lepper, of Earnscleugh, Lindsay McIntyre, of Bannockburn, Gillian MacLeod, of Queenstown, Malcolm Macpherson, of Alexandra, Ross McRobie, of Wanaka, Stu Millis, of Alexandra, Jane Mitchell, of Alexandra, Bob Perriam, of Lowburn, Louise Rosson, of Cromwell, John Rowley, of Teviot, Gordon Stewart, of Bannockburn, Susan Symons, of Alexandra, Mary Thompson, of Queenstown and Greg Wilkinson, of Cromwell.
Former trust chairman Duncan Butcher, of Cromwell, one of four trustees standing down after serving the maximum three terms on the trust, was not surprised at the high level of interest.
"Everyone was pretty happy with the way the trust was going last time around but now, with four vacancies, there are a number of people who think they are well qualified putting their name forward. I was led to believe it would be quite a large number.
"It's healthy and it shows the trust does a great job helping a lot of organisations in the area. It proves the fight we had 10 years ago to make sure the money stayed in trust to be used in perpetuity was the right thing to do."
The Central Lakes Trust was established to grant funds for local charitable purposes. The trust fund was created when the Otago Central Electric Power Board gave the trust assets worth $155 million in November 2000.
Voting papers will be mailed to about 29,500 electors within the trust region from October 28. Completed papers must be returned by noon on November 19. Preliminary results will be available that afternoon.
