Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes is promising an announcement on the appointment of a council chief executive soon.
This follows yesterday's meeting of councillors, with the public excluded, to discuss the matter.
Mr Geddes would not comment about the meeting but said an announcement would be made "in a few days".
He declined to say whether the list of applicants had been narrowed down to one.
Deputy mayor John S. Wilson said councillors adopted a motion during the discussion and an appointment would be made once final contractual agreements were in place.
The council last week interviewed the three candidates short-listed from 40 applicants.
Applications for the $280,000-per-annum position closed on October 12.
The position has been held by Duncan Field since 1997.
His contract expires in February.
