Promises made on asset sales

Two men standing for Christchurch mayor are promising they will not sell ratepayer-owned companies if elected.

Former district health board boss David Meates and Burwood city councillor Phil Mauger say council companies – such as the airport, and lines company Orion – will be safe on their watch.

But Mauger is still looking to sell off surplus ‘‘bits of dirt’’, while Meates wants a broader approach to this land and suggested working with housing trusts. A debate over asset sales kicked off earlier this year when some councillors mooted selling certain assets to cover the $150 million budget blowout on the city’s stadium.

Some left-leaning councillors fear asset sales will go ahead if the historically left-leaning council shifts to the right in October’s local body election. Such sales would require majority support. The mayor’s vote, like all other councillors, is worth a single vote.

James Gough, a councillor from the right-leaning Independent Citizens group, said he was frustrated by ‘‘below the belt’’ rhetoric about some candidates wanting to sell. ‘‘It highlights how they are more concerned about peddling fictitious stories and scaremongering than offering any solutions themselves,’’ Gough said.

Christchurch City Council owns majority stakes in Orion, Christchurch International Airport, Lyttelton Port, Enable, Citycare, EcoCentral, RBL Property Ltd, and Development Christchurch Ltd through its holding company, Christchurch City Holdings Ltd (CCHL). Gough said selling CCHL companies was not on his agenda.

‘‘That is not to say that under no uncertain terms, if someone were to raise it or there was an attractive proposition would you not consider it, but that would be considered hand in glove with the community,’’ he said.

Mauger made a stronger promise on CCHL companies. ‘‘You can take it from me that under my watch as mayor, I will not be selling any of these assets,’’ he said.

Mauger also said he would not sell community assets, namely libraries or swimming pools.

The only assets Mauger said he wanted to sell were ‘‘underperforming’’ ones – and most of these were surplus land.

Land he has previously suggested selling includes the former Red Bus depot, Orangetheory stadium, and a large plot in Diamond Harbour.

David Meates, who is widely expected to be Mauger’s main rival for the mayoralty, does not support asset sales either.

‘‘They are cornerstone assets for a city . . . we need to be looking at how do we leverage off those, and continue to build them and develop them,’’ he said.

On surplus land, Meates said the city’s broader needs must be looked at and he suggested working with housing trusts to develop social or low-cost housing on it.

Jake McLellan – a councillor from the left-leaning People’s Choice/Labour group who recently suggested community assets could be ‘‘on the chopping block’’ at the election – was delighted to hear the promise not to sell CCHL companies. ‘‘I previously thought Citycare was going to be on the chopping block . . . I’m really pleased it won’t be, that supports lots of jobs.’’