Graeme Todd has watched Queenstown grow into a global tourism mecca since arriving in 1981 fresh from the University of Otago law school.
In fact, the 52-year-old says he never really went on a "typical OE" because the resort was "never boring enough to leave".
Largely in his capacity as a Resource Management Act specialist, he has helped the district's various boroughs and councils amalgamate into the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
During that time he has witnessed all the vigorous public debates unfold over the future of the Lakes district and Central Otago - from enduring issues surrounding the Project Hayes wind farm, to the "supermarket battles" of the '90s, between Progressive Enterprises and Foodstuffs, to see who would establish the first Queenstown supermarket, and the "biggest controversy of all", the establishment of casinos in Queenstown, in which he acted on behalf of Skycity.
"Two different companies applied for what everyone thought would be one licence. It ended up two were granted, which was a surprise to everyone.
"The other big ongoing debate has been the one over the proliferation of rural development around Wanaka and Queenstown that was highlighted by the Warren Cooper versus Sam Neill debates earlier this decade."
Mr Todd was born in Invercargill and received his secondary education at the southern city's James Hargest High School.
He then spent a gap year as an exchange student in Los Angeles before studying law in Dunedin.
"Then I decided, if I'm going to be a lawyer, I'd better find out what they do and I went and knocked on a few doors and was fortunate enough to be given a clerk's position with Iain Gallaway, who was a very famous New Zealand broadcaster and lawyer."
He then went on to work for law firm Paterson and Lang and after his final exam was approached by Mactodd founder Alan Macalister in November 1981.
"I agreed to come up here for a year and I've been here ever since."
By 1983, he was a partner and has since distinguished himself as a resource management law specialist.
He has been involved in many of the major developments in the Central Otago area, and has also represented the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago councils, a relationship that has seen him build and maintain a large private client general practice.
He has witnessed Queenstown's transformation from New Zealand tourism's sleeping beauty to jewel in the crown.
"I've seen every step of the expansion of Queenstown Airport, whether it be jet aircraft or transtasman expansion, which has led to the growth of the town.
"The other thing that has directly contributed to the town's growth is the enhancement in communications."
Todd remembers the pre-1984 era ("it had its challenges"), when the town had a manual telephone exchange with which the firm ran Queenstown's first fax machine - resulting in queues "down the stairs" as people waited to use the high-tech gadgetry.
"My first cellphone was a suitcase, and then, eventually, came email and the internet and all of these things have made the town grow.
"It's simply easier to do business here and holiday when you can remain in communication.
"Queenstown is really now the leading all-year-round resort in the southern hemisphere," Mr Todd said.
"That's why I stayed here, because it really took off. I never had a typical OE because it was never boring enough to leave."
When asked why he has decided to retire and what he is going to do now, the keen golfer and sportsman is stumped - well almost.
"The second part of that question is easier than the first.
"I honestly don't know what I'm going to do and I felt it was easier to retire from the firm with no preconceptions about what I want to do in the future but I suspect it will be something to do with law and the Resource Management Act."
Mr Todd paid special tribute to Mr Macalister for his friendship and work on behalf of the local community, and to Mactodd staff member Gail Bradley, who marks her 30th year with the firm this year.
The firm's name will remain unchanged.
Mactodd board chairman Ray Polson said the Mactodd partnership would continue with the "business of providing high quality professional legal advice in all facets of the law to our existing clientele".
"We consider that the Queenstown and Central Lakes District, and Otago-Southland has a bright future."
