Mr Boult was sworn in by council chief executive Mike Theelen at a meeting at the Lake Hayes Pavilion yesterday afternoon and his first order of business was to swear in the 10 councillors, representing the Wakatipu, Arrowtown and Wanaka wards, and appoint Cr Calum MacLeod, of Wanaka, as the deputy mayor.
Mr Boult said it was ''not an easy choice'', but Cr MacLeod had the ''right elements to be deputy mayor''. His appointment continued a tradition of having a Queenstown-based mayor and a Wanaka-based deputy.
''We have a particularly capable group of councillors and they all bring valuable attributes to the table. I am confident that Cr MacLeod and I will have a solid working relationship.
''He is an experienced, respected representative and takes a pragmatic approach to finding solutions. We have common views on many important topics and where our perspectives differ, I know that we will respect each other's opinions.''
Mr Boult told family, friends and supporters who attended yesterday's meeting he was ''delighted'' to be leading the council. The new elected representatives provided an ''outstanding mix'' of personalities and interests.
''We have big issues to face in this district.
''We all know about those ... I think this council will be unified in working very hard to achieve those ... outcomes.
''I will be disappointed if [by the end of this term] we have not achieved major progress.''
Mr Boult paid tribute to the executive team and council staff who were ready to deliver excellent outcomes for the district ''given the freedom and encouragement to do that''.
He also praised the outgoing council which did a ''very good job'', particularly in respect of finances and said he wanted the new council to be remembered as a ''can-do council''.
One of his first official duties was to announce the reinstatement of four standing committees, disestablished in November 2014 by the previous council.
Mr Boult said yesterday their reinstatement would provide more in-depth analysis of important issues, enabling the council to carry out its business more effectively.
The planning and strategy committee would be chaired by Cr Tony Hill, Cr Ross McRobie was named chairman for the finance, audit and risk committee, Cr Alexa Forbes chairwoman of the infrastructure committee and Cr Scott Stevens the chairman of the community and services committee.
The first ordinary meeting of the new council will be held on November 24, in Queenstown.
