A former lawyer who shone a light on sexual harassment in the legal profession is standing for the Queenstown Lakes mayoralty.
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Olivia Wensley has today announced she will be seeking the mayoral seat that will come vacant at the upcoming local elections, when incumbent Jim Boult retires after six years.
Wensley came to prominence in 2018 after speaking out about inappropriate behaviour in the legal profession in the wake of the Russell McVeagh scandal.
Jon Mitchell, who unsuccessfully stood as Labour's candidate for the Southland electorate in the 2020 general election, had also declared his intent to run for mayor as an independent.
Wensley said she would step down as chief executive of Startup Queenstown Lakes if successful and was running as an independent.
The idea to stand for mayor first crossed her mind in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I took on my role Startup Queenstown Lakes two-and-a-half years ago ... and what I noticed is with Covid the Queenstown tourism economy got decimated, but something very interesting happened, I noticed there was this huge surge of talent coming to the region," she said.
"Covid has been a great disruptor around the world for how we work and it's making sense for people to live where they want to, opposed to where they have to. So I see a very, very exciting opportunity to reinvent our region in a way that is more sustainable and I really want to focus on building high-growth, high-opportunity in the region."
With the exception of Vanessa van Uden's six years wearing the mayoral chains between 2010 and 2016, the role had exclusively been filled by men even dating back to the former Queenstown Borough from 1866-1986.
Wensley said she believed local government needed greater diversity.
She hoped her campaign would inspire other young women to put their hand up.
"That's exactly what I hope to bring to the table, some fresh, innovative thinking, and I'm seeing a real sea change around the world ... I'm in my late 30s now, there's women my age running countries now all around the world. So it's a very exciting time to get some new leadership.
"I think it's really important that people of my generation come forward and stand for local government. We need more diversity and voices at the table because it's making decisions that will affect my generation and my children's generation."
Formal nominations open on 15 July and close on 12 August.
Local government elections will be held on 8 October.
