Mayor Dalziel faces 12 challengers
Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel faces 12 challengers in the race for the top job at the city council – but few appear to have any previous political experience.
When nominations for this year’s local elections closed at noon yesterday more than 130 candidates had been nominated for the 54 elected positions available across the city.
With veteran councillor and former mayor Vicki Buck standing down, along with colleagues Raf Manji and Phil Clearwater, the election will result in at least three new faces around the council table.
Each seat has at least two candidates – meaning none will be uncontested – while the Innes and Riccarton wards will both be fought over by five people.
Dalziel, who in January announced her intention to stand for a third term, is one of 13 with a chance of being mayor, the highest number of candidates since the 14 who stood in 2010.
Dalziel said she offered ‘‘stable leadership’’ during an uncertain period for Christchurch when she announced her candidacy last month, standing for a third time because of a ‘‘sense of unfinished business’’.
Prominent among those running against her are activist and 2016 mayoral hopeful John Minto, who Dalziel beat by more than 60,000 votes.
Minto, a social campaigner who has been involved with the Unite union and is a former leading figure in the protest group Halt All Racist Tours, is again campaigning on a platform of free public transport.
He also wants a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a ‘‘local production, local consumption’’ initiative and more affordable housing.
Bar owner and Crusaders board member Darryll Park unveiled his manifesto on Friday, built on policies of no rates increases, reducing crime, improving infrastructure and making Christchurch better for business and attractive for events.
Both Minto and Park would be newcomers at the council table, and the other mayoral candidates also appear to have little political experience.
Retail worker Stephen McPaike wants to improve the lives of those in the city’s social housing units, having himself been forced to line his windows with bubble wrap to keep out the cold, while telecoms technician Adrian Schonborn is campaigning for a sustainable city that has proper infrastructure and clean housing.
Others in the running are Jim Glass, Sam Park, Aaron White and JT Anderson, while perennial candidates Blair Anderson, Tubby Hansen and Peter Wakeman have again put themselves forward.
Christchurch City Council electoral officer Jo Daly said there had been a rush of candidates yesterday morning, with 84 now battling it out for 37 community board positions and 46 people contesting 16 council wards. Some have hedged their bets by standing for roles on both the council and community boards.
The final list of candidates will be published next week, with the election on October 12.
Local election turnouts have been declining since the 1980s, with 1989 the last time voter numbers were above 50 per cent.
Turnout has plummeted in Christchurch in recent years, down from 52.2 per cent in 2010 to 38.3 per cent in 2016, compared with 42 per cent nationally.
Local Government New Zealand president Dave Cull said: ‘‘Traditionally local government has been the domain of older people who see it as a chance to share their knowledge and experience at the tail end of the working lives. ‘‘Increasingly, however, we’re seeing more younger people stand, who are concerned about big issues such as climate change, the housing crisis, water quality and transport options, where councils play a significant role.
‘‘It could be that this generational change drives greater turnout – the proof will be in whether younger people turn out at the polls to support the new generation of candidates.’’
The full list of Christchurch candidates can be found on the council’s website.