Anti-visitor levy campaigner Nik Kiddle has confirmed he's throwing his hat in the ring for the Queenstown Lakes District mayoralty.
He is the third candidate to enter the race, joining incumbent Jim Boult and former candidate Al Angus.
Kiddle, who owns Queenstown hotel Villa Del Lago, has been a staunch opponent of the proposed visitor levy and formed the Lakes District Tax Equity Group to oppose it.
At a meeting of the group in April this year, Kiddle said the preferred option would be GST revenue from visitor expenditure being rebated, which would be ''very easy to do''.
He confirmed his candidacy but declined to comment in more detail when contacted this morning.
However, in a letter sent to community association leaders and obtained by the Mountain Scene, Kiddle said: "locals should not be crowded out by visitors''.
"We should be striving for the smartest way to use visitor expenditure to help protect the district's quality of life.''
Mr Kiddle also called the council's application to discharge wastewater in waterways "a disgrace''.
Council nominations close at noon tomorrow.
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"At a meeting of the group in April this year, Kiddle said the preferred option would be GST revenue from visitor expenditure being rebated, which would be ''very easy to do''."
But which at every turn, central govt refuse to budge on. It's a non starter. Period. And he and this group continue to bang this drum.
The other option goes on to gain significant support from the voters - which means he's putting his hand up to be mayor of a population which clearly doesn't agree with his line of thinking.! Makes little sense to me!
The tourist tax is popular and much needed. It has built toilets in the Mackenzie> However this a central govt matter and has no connection to local bodies so he has clearly done a big own goal here. Where does he stand on the airport???