The appointment of Dunedin-based Murray Valentine as interim chairman of the Queenstown Airport Corporation board, replacing ousted chairman Mark Taylor, came as a surprise to most Queenstown Lakes District councillors, who told the Otago Daily Times they "read about it in the paper" yesterday.
Crs Cath Gilmour, Lex Perkins, Russell Mawhinney and Trevor Tattersfield all read of Mr Valentine's appointment yesterday. Cr Jude Battson, of Wanaka, could not recall when she found out, and Cr Mel Gazzard read of it in a press release on Tuesday afternoon.
Cr Simon Stamers-Smith, having been out of town for a fortnight, learned of the appointment when the ODT called him yesterday afternoon. It is understood a press release was emailed to all councillors on Tuesday afternoon.
However, councillors spoken to supported Mr Valentine's appointment after a special general meeting at the airport on Tuesday.
Finance and corporate committee chairman Cr John Mann and chief executive Debra Lawson were at the meeting as the council's delegation to act as the shareholders' representatives.
Mayor Vanessa van Uden was part of that delegation, but was unavailable to attend.
Mr Mann said a "note" went out to all councillors about three weeks ago for "reconfirmation" they were happy with the make-up of that delegation.
Also at the meeting was one representative from Auckland International Airport Ltd and the three board members - Mr Valentine, James Hadley and Allison Gerry. It was the "shareholders' prerogative" to appoint an interim chairman, Mr Mann said.
While there was no meeting of councillors to gauge support for Mr Valentine to be appointed, the ODT understands there were informal conversations between councillors.
Ms van Uden, Ms Lawson and Mr Mann "discussed it at some length" last week, Mr Mann said.
"On a personal basis, Mr Valentine and the rest of the board and ... management have my unqualified support and I noted Mr Valentine's comment in the ODT that he wants to `get ourselves through the present position and make Queenstown Airport the best airport in New Zealand'.
He has my unqualified support to do that.
"All things considered, in the current climate, I'm most appreciative personally that Mr Valentine has made himself available at short notice to [be] the interim chairman," Mr Mann said.
Cr Gazzard said Mr Valentine's appointment was a "good decision".
"I'm happy with it. The best way forward for Murray Valentine is to continue the good work that Mark Taylor was doing," Cr Gazzard said.
Cr Gilmour said she trusted Mr Valentine would "do a good job".
"[He needs to] keep the staff and the board focused on making Queenstown Airport function at its best on all fronts."
Cr Mawhinney said it was a "positive decision".
"We need to put the issues behind us and need some continuity ... there are some good things happening out there."
Cr Tattersfield said he did not have an opinion on the appointment. Cr Battson was in support, as was deputy mayor Lyal Cocks, also of Wanaka.
"I think it's a good decision, a good thought," Cr Cocks said.
"He's an experienced director and as an interim chair it was the most obvious selection. He just needs to focus. They [the board] need to provide as much support to the management team as possible.
"There's a lot of activity, gearing up to the winter season, they've got good strategies in place, they've got a plan and they've just got to get on and implement it.
"The board just needs to be cohesive and ensure that the airport continues to be the best in New Zealand."
Cr Perkins did not want to comment and Cr Leigh Overton could not be contacted.
Cr Mann said the process around appointing a permanent chairman was a full council decision, which would be made later this year, likely before the annual meeting at the end of September.
