A short-list of three applicants, in the running for the Queenstown Lakes District Council chief executive's position, will be interviewed by councillors next week.
Deputy Mayor John S.Wilson, of Wanaka, said about 40 people had applied for the $280,000 per annum position, which was advertised earlier this year, before applications closed on October 12.
Duncan Field has been employed in the position since 1997, his contract runs out in February.
Cr Wilson said the council had interviewed "a long list" of applicants and had whittled it down to three remaining applicants.
Those three applicants would be making presentations to the council next week.
"We hope that at the conclusion of that, or within that week, we will be in a position to make a decision.
"But of course there will be formalising things that would have to be [done] before anyone could be announcing anything."
Mr Wilson said the council had hoped to make the decision in November but the process had been delayed slightly.
