Queenstown Lakes District Lake Council Wanaka-Upper Clutha ward and Community Board candidates shared their views on the importance of diversification in Wanaka.
This included topics such as community representation in candidates and Wanaka’s economic talent retention and business expansion.
Wanaka-Upper Clutha Community Board candidate Simon Telfer said he was disappointed there was only one woman among among the candidates.
"I am really disappointed, to be perfectly honest. Linda [Joll] is the only one standing that is female and I am the youngest at 51, that’s ridiculous," he said.
He would work hard to ensure the public would have more choice and a diverse representation of people reflective of the Wanaka community in three years’ time, Mr Telfer said.
"It is the way of ensuring no-one is left behind."
The audience applauded his comment.
It was announced during the forum Emily Rose Hay would no longer be standing for Wanaka-Upper Clutha Community Board.
Of the 11 Wanaka-Upper Clutha ward and Community Board candidates, Ms Joll has become the only woman standing.
Prior to these statements, master of ceremonies Tracey Roxburgh had asked the panel of Wanaka-Upper Clutha ward candidates what barriers needed to be overcome to fully diversify Queenstown Lakes’ economy.
The eight Wanaka-Upper Clutha ward candidates are Quentin Smith, John Wellington, Daniel Shand, Olly Burke, Ross McCarthy, Lyal Cocks, Cody Tucker and Barry Bruce.
Mr Smith said he believed diversification was about creating the "right soil, and the right stuff would grow".
"We need to create the environment where business can be successful. We need to grow a place where our kids do not have to run away and travel the world to develop the experience, they can do that here," he said.
Mr Wellington said the community was more diversified than many at present believed.
"We think we are focused on tourism. Certainly, over the last few years there has been a lot of people relocated here that have been working remotely," Mr Wellington said.
Mr Shand referred back to a previous question about affordable housing.
Mr Burke said further training options such as another secondary school or training facility needed to be offered in the district.
"I think diversification starts right at the root level. My priority would be to make a plan for the next 20 years for the growth that we are having," Mr Burke said.
Mr Cocks said diversification was a very common, overused word.
"I tend to agree with John [Wellington] that we have a wide range of economic activity happening in the district. We think tourism, but actually building is our biggest industry. We do need to attract other economic-type activities," Mr Cocks said.
Mr Tucker said he was surprised at how many intelligent people lived within the community.
"As you know, there is a lot of remote work happening now organically," Mr Tucker said.
A barrier around more people coming into the area and diversifying primary industries was the cost of living crisis, he said.
"Most of them are working for nothing, so it is going to be a hard sell to attract them and ensure we have a diversification of people in order to get a better outcome and be welcoming of change," he said.
Mr Bruce said Wanaka’s point of difference was its diverse population and range of skills already within the community.
"I think if we get the people thing right and we get the ability for them to be able to pursue their interests in business developments then the rest will follow on," he said.
The audience present was estimated to be more than 100 people, of which half were women and fewer than a dozen under 35 years old.
The community forum with mayoral, council and community board candidates was organised by and hosted at the Lake Wanaka Centre on September 8, 6:30pm-8:30pm.
