Eight people have applied for two vacancies on the Network Waitaki board of directors, the North Otago electricity distribution lines company owned by the Waitaki Power Trust on behalf of consumers.
The trust recently called for applications to serve on the six member board. Trust chairwoman Helen Brookes said yesterday there was a strong response and high standard of applicants.
Two of the directors have to retire each year. This year it is board chairwoman Clare Kearney, who is seeking re-election, and Danny Hailes, who resigned after leaving North Otago to take up a new position with Alliance Group.
The trust is responsible for appointing the directors of Network Waitaki and Dr Brookes said a short list of applicants would be prepared for interviews.
"All are particularly strong and well qualified so it will be a difficult decision," she said.
As part of the appointment process, the trust would consider the skills of existing directors, picking up where there may be gaps.
The new directors would be formally appointed at the company's annual general meeting next month with shareholders, then publicly announced, she said.
The directors who continue in office are David Sinclair, Lindsay Malcolm, John Walker and Derek Atkinson. In the 2009-10 financial year, directors were paid $24,500 and the chairwoman $37,500.
