1 August 2007

Christchurch mayoral candidate Megan Woods has pledged to retain public ownership of city assets such as the airport, the port and public housing.

Rival candidate Bob Parker immediately struck back yesterday, claiming Woods was parroting existing city council policy.

Woods launched the policy on the deck of an historic tug on Lyttelton Harbour in a bid to highlight the proposed sale last year of a share of the port to Hong Kong company Hutchison Port Holdings.

Woods, the Christchurch 2021 mayoral candidate, yesterday pledged that no significant public assets would be sold if she became mayor.

"We will not sell your family silver," she said.

"Over the last term, the present council, dominated by non-aligned and independent councillors, has betrayed our city's commitment to public ownership of our assets. Last year we saw council attempts to sell the operational arm of the Lyttelton Port Company to offshore interests, to remove the Red Bus Company and City Care from the list of protected assets, and to water down the protection of the assets afforded to them under the Local Government Act."

The pledge was signed by Christchurch 2021 candidates for community boards and the council.

Parker said the retention of public assets was "basically council policy".

"It is currently policy of council and unless our community told us a very good reason to change it, I do not see why we would," Parker said.

"My bottom line is, you do not sell a strategic asset unless the community gives you the permission to do so."

For further comment contact:
Megan Woods - 2021 Candidate for Mayor
Mobile: 027 669 0457
Email: megan@megan4mayor.com