More incumbent Queenstown Lakes district councillors, and a challenger, have revealed their intentions as the nomination period for October's local government elections draws closer.
Two-term Queenstown councillor Alexa Forbes will leave the council at election time and stand instead for the Otago Regional Council (ORC).
In a statement yesterday she said the next council term was ''pivotal'' for the region.
''Over the next three years, ORC will set the environmental direction of our communities for years to come.
''It's critical that its approach engages inclusively with all sectors of the region's communities and that strategies such as the regional water plan are supported by a well-resourced science base.''
She will stand in the Dunstan ward.
Arrowtown ward councillor Scott Stevens will also not seek re-election, saying ''after five years representing the people of Arrowtown, it is time for me to pass the baton on to someone else''. Mr Stevens said it had ''not been easy negotiating our way through unprecedented growth'', but Arrowtown had maintained a ''special sense of community''.
They join Wanaka ward councillor Ross McRobie, who announced in February he was moving to Otematata and would stand for the Waitaki District Council.
A few familiar faces will be putting their hands up again.
Crs Val Miller, Penny Clark, Quentin Smith, John MacDonald, and Craig Ferguson have all confirmed they will seek re-election.
The first challenger to the incumbents also announced his council bid this week.
Kinloch Lodge owner John Glover, who stood unsuccessfully in 2013, announced he would stand again.
Mayor Jim Boult will also take another tilt at the top job.
Deputy mayor Calum MacLeod said he would be making a decision within the next couple of weeks.
Cr Tony Hill said he would not make his decision on whether to stand again until nominations opened on July 19.
