Here are "The People's Choice 2021" candidates for Christchurch's October elections...
  1. Ben Ross
    Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board
    Natalie Bryden
    Riccarton-Wigram Community Board
    Jimmy Chen
    Riccarton-Wigram Council & Community Board

    Ben is a filmmaker and has experience in helping people work as a team to achieve a goal. His concerns are community funding, keeping local people in jobs and the environment.

    Natalie has lived in the area for 41 years and worked for the District Health Board. She's been a committee member and chair of South Hornby School's Board of Trustees for 6 years.

    Jimmy works across many public and community services. He knows the area and is keen to engage people, improve safety and promote open and transparent decision making.

     

  2. Judy Kirk
    Riccarton-Wigram Community Board
    Glenn Livingstone
    Burwood-Pegasus Council
    Brenda Lowe-Johnson
    Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board

    Judy is a current Community Board member for the Riccarton - Wigram ward. She is involved in a number of other organisations for youth, education and the wider community.

    Glenn has worked as a Presbyterian Minister for 20 years. He has advocated for Social Housing tenants clean water and balance between city and ward bus needs.

    Brenda is a Community Board member and has lived in the ward for 23 years. She has pioneered programmes for low income people and wants a strong, safe and healthy community.

     

  3. Karolin Potter
    Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board
    Tim Scandrett Spreydon-Heathcote
    Council & Community Board
    Cameron Stewart
    Shirley-Papanui Community Board

    karolin-potter-tKarolin is an educator in the Human Rights Commission, a JP and a current community board member. Concerns are gaps between those who have and do not and the environment.

    tim-scandrett-tTim is currently a member of the community board and has lived in the area his entire life. He believes facilities, services and natural resources need responsible investment.

    Cameron was formerly on the Papanui High School Board of Trustees. He was involved in many organisations at the university and hopes for a safe, vibrant area where all are welcome.

     

  4. Jasmin Teague
    Burwood-Pegasus Community Board
    Chrissie Williams
    Burwood-Pegasus Council & Community Board
    Tim Baker
    Burwood-Pegasus Community Board

    Jasmin has strong experience working in the health sector. She is one of our youngest candidates and possesses a vibrant personality and a positive attitude.

    Chrissie is a councillor for Burwood Pegasus. She supports controlling rates, maintaining services, pure tap water, cleaner rivers, bus clearways and cycle networks.

    Tim is known for his role on the Aranui Primary School board and has written four books on the area. Tim advocates for beautifying Christchurch and reducing tagging.

     

  5. Julie Gorman
    Burwood-Pegasus Community Board
    Darel Hall
    Shirley-Papanui Community Board
    Yani Johanson
    Hagley-Ferrymead Council

    Julie is a Correspondence School liaison teacher and has served as a deputy and acting principal at a local school. She wants to represent an area she has been part of for 40 years.

    Darel has been an educator for over 20 years. He has a focus on tertiary policy and actively campaigned against rent increases and cuts to community funding.

    Yani is the youngest current city councillor at 35 years old. He is committed to fighting hard for the values of openness, transparency and democracy around the Council.

     

  6. Linda Stewart
    Burwood-Pegasus Community Board
    Nicky Taylor
    Burwood-Pegasus Community Board
    Peter Taylor
    Hagley-Ferrymead Council & Community Board

    A board member for three years, Linda has a Community Service Award and is on Keep Christchurch Beautiful and Civil Defence. The environment and safe, happy communities are concerns for her.

    Nicky Taylor has worked in the community sector for fifteen years. She wants to work with the area on the environment, employment and helping people feel safe in their homes.

    peter-taylor-tPeter feels the best people to determine how our rates should be spent are residents. He wants to protect waterways, our city water supply and have an area where we all feel safe.

     

  7. Phil Clearwater
    Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board
    Pauline Cotter
    Shirley-Papanui Council & Community Board
    James Dann
    Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board

    Phil has chaired the Community Board for the last three terms. His concerns are road safety, traffic congestion, children's learning centres and reducing isolation for older people.

    Pauline has lived in St Albans for 22 years and was elected to the Shirley - Papanui Community Board in 2007, as a result of her successful stand on the Edgeware Pool closure.

    james-dann-mChristchurch born and bred, James is a health researcher, working on endometrial cancer genetics. James writes music and sings in a band. He is very concerned about water issues.

     

  8. Islay McLeod
    Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board
    Paul McMahon
    Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board
    Mike Mora
    Riccarton-Wigram Council & Community Board

    Islay lives in Linwood. She loves the area and wants to restore the community and environmental values that once had Christchurch residents proud to live here.

    Paul works as an associate pastor at Opawa Baptist Church and is on the Waltham Youth Trust. He believes in developing communities and building trust within them.

    Mike has served on the Community Board for 18 years. He has vast experience, knowledge and understanding of the ward. Mike enjoys finding practical solutions to issues.

  9. Tracey Dorreen
    Shirley-Papanui Community Board
    Paul Findlay
    Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board
    Ishwar Ganda
    Riccarton-Wigram Community Board

    Tracey is a dynamic, energetic woman with several years of community involvement. She is willing to stand up for the underdog and speak for those who cannot speak up for themselves.

    Paul feels his fresh and energetic approach will be useful in serving the community he grew up in. He is involved in many community and youth organisations and projects.

    ishwar-ganda-tIshwar has lived in the ward and served the community for many years.  A Queens Service Order recipient, he is passionate about our Garden City, its quality of life and family values. 

     

Jim Anderton announced today that he will re-instate the role of Council Committees so that Councillors have an opportunity to do more in-depth research and public consultation before the Council makes final decisions on where to spend rate-payers money.

"Councillors need the time to delve more deeply into areas like infrastructure investment and managing the city's business before they make decisions that have long term implications. They need to have a robust process which enables them to consult with local people," says Mayoral candidate Jim Anderton.

Council Committees were disbanded in 2004 partly because of concerns that Councillors were being paid extra to Chair the Committees and took too much power.

"I don't see it as necessary to pay the Chairs of these Committees extra money to do something I would expect them to do anyway as part of their job," says Jim Anderton.

"But I do think it's necessary to have a process where groups of Councillors can develop special expertise in specific areas of council business, and then have the time to listen to the community, before they make important Council decisions.

"At the moment, Councillors are given piles of papers to read, sometimes just before decisions are made. What opportunity do they have to get up to speed on issues before they're expected to make a decision?"

Chairs of Committees will also be available as Council spokespeople on the areas that they understand best. The Mayor will not be the only Council spokesperson.

It would also mean that Councillors who represent Council on outside organisations have a mechanism to gauge Council's views and to report back.

"Since the Committees were disbanded, the number of Councillors has declined from twenty-four to twelve. The Council is being regarded like a company board of directors with most issues going straight to the full Council. This has meant that it has become even harder for Councillors to keep on top of all the issues and be available to listen to community viewpoints. That's why unelected Council officials have ended up making back room decisions and Councillors have effectively rubber stamped them without being fully informed of the implications of decisions they are making."

Committees will help Councillors become specialists in certain areas, and give them an opportunity to work closely with Council staff and community representatives.

They will also result in a more informed Council which listens to the People.

If elected Mayor of Christchurch, Jim Anderton will create five Council Committees (final Terms of Reference will be agreed in consultation with elected Councillors after the election):

1.    Transport and Infrastructure

This will cover areas like water, waste management, pipe and sewerage systems, roading, cycling and public transport

2.    Parks and Reserves

This will cover the management and care of parks and green spaces, recreational reserves, the city's garden strategy and its garden city image.

3.    Community Services

Including affordable housing, community funding to the voluntary sector and community groups, libraries, pools and sports stadiums, safer city activities, as well as arts, culture and heritage.

4.    Finance

Priorities for Council spending will be explored here after public consultation and feedback from the community

5.    Planning

This will cover all by-laws and regulatory requirements including the Resource Management Act and the Local Government Act, liquor licensing laws and other regulatory issues.

A special Inner-City Revitalisation Unit will also be created and will be chaired by the Mayor. It will include local architects, urban designers, residents, retailers and others with a commitment to bringing the inner city back to life.

"Christchurch deserves a Council that is fully informed before it makes decisions that affect the lives of local people. It deserves a Council that is prepared to make the time and space for in-depth consultation with the community. The re-introduction of Council Committees will help us better serve the City," says Jim Anderton.

Contact: For further information, phone Jim Anderton on 021 777 680
Or Jacqui McCabe (campaign press secretary) on 021 251 1801

 
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People's Choice sounds warning

For three years the current Mayor and Council ignored the public, made decisions in secret, spent $17m on the Henderson deal, and tried to raise Council housing rents by 24%.

Can they be relied on to care for the displaced? To listen to community views on rebuilding? To manage ratepayer funds prudently? To avoid both long-term 'bomb sites' and cheap-and-nasty building?

 
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Phone & write...

Darel Hall, Chair
The People's Choice 2021

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11 Warden Street
Richmond
Christchurch 8013
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Tel: 03 385 9299
Mob: 021 708 510

Candidates in Cathedral Square.