Leader, problem solver, and now a Companion
Jim Boult loves solving problems, which is fortuitous. He’s faced some doozies.
Not long after he stepped into a temporary role as chief executive of Christchurch Airport, the city was hit by the devastating 2011 earthquakes. Then he took on the role of Queenstown Lakes District mayor and was confronted with the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was his leadership and ability to find and enact solutions that saw him appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015, and now a Companion of the New Zealand Order ofMerit.
The citation recognises his ser- vices to local government, tourism and the community, including his works as patron of the Child Cancer Foundation,
Whakatipu Wildlife Trust and Whakatipu Rowing Club, and as chairperson of the Canterbury Museum Working Party.
He has extensive business interests and is a past chairperson and director of Real NZ, Shotover Jet Group, Civil Aviation Authority and Hawkins Construction, and a member of the Risk and Audit committee for New Zealand Customs.
However, it has been Boult’s public roles in the face of adversity which have been his highest profile.
He was a Government appointee on the Christchurch International Airport Ltd board when he was asked to temporarily become airport chief executive in 2008 as the incumbent left during a major project developing a new terminal. He subsequently managed the airport through the Christchurch earthquakes recovery.
In 2016, he was settled back into home life in Queenstown, when Sir Eion Edgar suggested he run for the mayoralty.
He won in a landslide, and labelled the 2016 council the “can-do council”, leading projects including an initiative to provide affordable homes, the creation of a Bed Tax, and implementation of a government working party for freedom camping.
After two terms, he retired from the mayoralty and challenges of local government.
Ultimately, the people most responsible for his achievements were wife Karen, and their children, James and Victoria, he said.
Since stepping down as mayor, he has adapted to his phone not ringing so often, and is busy and happy looking after his business interests and various charity roles.