The two leading Christchurch mayoral hopefuls have opened their
campaigns. They tell The Star what they will do for the city.
# Megan Woods says her mayoral campaign strategy is simple -talk
to the people, find out what they want and deliver.
Her campaign issues include making the city council more accessible,
respecting the rates dollar, reconsidering the proposed $100m
civic building, water quality and heritage building protection
and community safety.
"Everyone wants a safe city, the central thing I want to
do for Christchurch is build strong neighbourhoods and strong
communities, to me that is the absolute core to being safe,"
she said.
"People don't feel safe in their own city and that's something
we need to address & there's no silver bullet for safety so
we need to look a range of measures."
Dr Woods kicked off her campaign on April 16, the day after the
2021 elected her for the mayoral race. "Since that day I've
been out engaging with people in the community, listening to them
and finding out what they see as the future of their city,"
she said.
Dr Woods went on unpaid leave from her job as business manager
for Crop and Food Research last week in order to focus on her
campaign. "I don't see that as a campaign 'launch' though,
it's just that we are moving up a gear, we've only got 95 95-odd
-days to go until the election."
"We've already been out in the streets door knocking and
at the end of the month the billboards will go up and we'll be
holding community meetings on street corners."
"It's about old fashioned campaigning there's no rocket
science to a political campaign, it's about connecting with the
people on issues that are important to them," she said.
Other members of 2021 and a team of volunteers have signed up
to help Dr Woods, and she has also enlisted the help of her 12-year-old
-stepdaughter to get her message out to young voters. "She's
helped me set up a site on Bebo (a social networking site) and
I'm also looking at engaging people who don't usually vote through
other networking sites like Facebook and Myspace, as well as my
own website."
Dr Woods said while public safety was key to her campaign, more
so after her home was burgled on Monday, there were other integral
factors.
"Infrastructure of the city is really critical, there are
the traditional basics like roading, but also more modern social
and community infrastructure and the way in which we can build
a vibrant city for our people."
"We are also campaigning on retaining publicly owned assets,
that's something we're picking up in the streets is that people
are fearful about more assets being removed, they don't want to
see the family silver flogged off like the Port Company was in
the last term."
# Bob Parker wants Christchurch to be recognised as one of the
world's best cities to live in.
Cr Parker has launched his mayoral campaign with a pledge card
that lists traffic flow, street safety, heritage protection, council
services, and the environment as top priorities.
"Christchurch is a great city with endless opportunity.
But we need to ensure that our citizens of all ages and backgrounds
can feel safe on the streets; that the air and water is kept clean;
that we have options on how we travel; that we protect and celebrate
our unique cultural and architectural heritage; and that we have
a council that works well," he says.
"Both Auckland and Wellington are listed in the top 100
liveable cities in the world, but at the moment, Christchurch
doesn't feature. We need to get the basics right if we are to
be a truly great city."
Cr Parker said if Christchurch is one of the world's most liveable
cities, it would ensure it's also a great place to do business.
"We can attract skilled people from around the world to live
and work here, and make it a place our kids will want to come
back to after their OE."
Parker says that because he has no political allegiance he can
represent the views of Christchurch people.
He took an indirect swipe at his main challenger 2021's Megan
Woods, questioning how a politically politically-aligned -mayor
with a set of pre pre-determined-polices could actually strengthen
local democracy.
However, yesterday he said the reference was not at Dr Woods
specifically, but all candidates with political allegiances.
"I will represent the people of Christchurch not the views
of a particular political party," he says. "I firmly
believe democracy is at its best when a huge range of voices and
opinions are heard, respected, and considered on their merits."
As mayor, Cr Parker said he would ensure a high standard of council
services, including rubbish collection, water, and roading. He
would also focus on resolving traffic concerns through an efficient
and sustainable public transport system.
"We have a number of innovative options for reducing congestion
on our roads that are worthy of investigation, anything from an
energy efficient electric bus service to light rail. This mode
of transport is playing a vital role in urban regeneration, social
connectedness, and sustainability in countries all over the world."
For further comment contact:
Megan Woods - 2021 Candidate for Mayor
Mobile: 027 669 0457
Email: megan@megan4mayor.com
