Aucklanders now hold all but one of the seats on the Queenstown Airport Corporation board however, it will be led by Queenstown-based legal and financial specialist Prue Flacks.
In a statement yesterday Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult announced Ms Flacks as the new chairwoman of the board, replacing John Gilks, of Wanaka.
Auckland-based professional director Adrienne Young-Cooper has been appointed as a director, replacing Queenstown's James Hadley.
Both women have been appointed for three-year terms.
Mr Boult said the council, during the public excluded session of last week's full meeting in Wanaka, also "signalled its intention'' to reappoint Michael Stiassny and Norm Thompson, both of Auckland, for a further three-year term.
The changes would take effect from the next QAC annual meeting, being held on November 27.
The remaining board members are professional director Grant Lilly, of Auckland, and Auckland Airport shareholder representative Mark Thomson, appointed to the board in June this year.
The airport is a Council-Controlled Trading Organisation (CCTO) with two shareholders.
Until 2010 the airport was fully owned by the Queenstown Lakes District Council. In July that year the council announced it sold off 24.99% of its shareholding to Auckland International Airport Ltd for $27 million in a controversial "strategic alliance''.
The deal happened without consultation with the previous sole shareholder, the ratepayers of the Queenstown Lakes district.
Yesterday former Mayor Warren Cooper said while he "could not criticise'' the outcomes the board and various directors had provided for the community over the past seven years "I don't know if we have to be supplemented by questionable talent from the north''.
"I would have to say that some of the business people around Queenstown would be the doyens of business people in New Zealand,'' Mr Cooper said.
"[They are] very successful and I think that those that are making those appointments should be much more aware of the regional talent that there is, there's too much of Queenstown at the present time being planned by Auckland.
"I think that's probably a retrograde step.''
Mr Boult said the council was only looking at two appointments at present.
"We can't do too much about the other four that are there at the present time.''
However, the council "very much'' had desire to see greater Queenstown representation on the board.
"That's why I was delighted we had such a good-quality person as Prue Flacks put her name forward for the chair's role.''
Mr Boult also acknowledged Mr Gilks and Mr Hadley's contributions to the board.
"John has been on the board for six years, serving as chair since 2012 and James was appointed almost 10 years ago.
"Both have provided valuable leadership and contribution during a period of rapid growth for the airport,'' Mr Boult said.
