Christchurch City Council

Christchurch City Council
Type
Type	City council of Christchurch
History
Founded	1862
Leadership
Mayor	Phil Mauger
Interim Chief Executive	Mary Richardson
Elections
Voting system	First-past-the-post (FPP)
Motto
Fide condita, fructu beata, spe fortis
Meeting place
Christchurch Civic Offices, Worcester Street frontage
Website
https://www.ccc.govt.nz/

A view of part of Christchurch's central business district, showing former civic offices (building on lower right corner) and the former New Zealand Post office, which was updated in 2009–10 by the architectural firm Ian Athfield and Associates to become the new civic offices (large white building in centre right rear). The Avon River flows through the city centre.

The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the 396,200 people of Christchurch. ^[1] Since October 2022, the Mayor of Christchurch is Phil Mauger, who succeeded after the retirement of Lianne Dalziel. ^[2] The council currently consists of 16 councillors elected from sixteen wards, and is presided over by the mayor, who is elected at large. The number of elected members and ward boundaries changed prior during the 2016 election.

History

The coat of arms of the City of Christchurch, New Zealand.

As a result of the 1989 local government reforms, on 1 November 1989 Christchurch City Council took over the functions of the former Christchurch City Council, Heathcote County Council, Riccarton Borough Council, Waimairi District Council, part of Paparua County Council, and the Christchurch Drainage Board. On 6 March 2006, Banks Peninsula District Council merged with Christchurch City Council.

Councillor Yani Johanson campaigned since 2010 to live-stream council meetings for more transparency. Whilst the technology had been installed well before the 2013 local body election, it has only been used since the change in mayor. ^[3]

Elections

The council is elected every three years using the first-past-the-post voting system. The vote is conducted by postal ballot. The 2016 elections had a turnout of 38.3% down from 42.9% and 52.2% in 2013 and 2010 respectively. ^[4]

Prior to the 2004 local elections, there were 24 councillors in Christchurch. At that election, the number of councillors halved to 12. ^[5] For electoral purposes, Christchurch was divided into six wards from 2004, and seven wards after the amalgamation with Banks Peninsula in 2006. The six metropolitan wards each elected two councillors, with the remaining councillor elected for the sparsely populated Banks Peninsula ward. The 2016 representation review by the Local Government Commission has resulted in 16 wards, with each ward electing one councillor, i.e. an increase in three councillors. ^[6]

Political groupings represented on the council are the centre-right Independent Citizens ^[7] and the centre-left The People's Choice (formerly Christchurch 2021). ^[8] Party politics are less influential in elections to the council than is the case for the House of Representatives, with 10 councillors elected on tickets and 7 elected as independents in 2019, including the mayor.

Council members

Main category: Christchurch City Councillors

2022–current

The composition of the council for the 2022 term is:

Ward / role	Councillor(s)
Mayor	Phil Mauger (Let's Get Stuff Done)
Banks Peninsula Ward	Tyrone Fields (The People's Choice)
Burwood Ward	Kelly Barber (Independent for Burwood)
Cashmere Ward	Tim Scandrett (Truly Independent)
Central Ward	Jake McLellan (Labour)
Coastal Ward	Celeste Donovan (Independent – Let's Make Waves)
Fendalton Ward	James Gough (Independent Citizens)
Halswell Ward	Andrei Moore (Independent)
Harewood Ward	Aaron Keown (Independent Voice of Harewood)
Heathcote Ward	Sara Templeton (Strong Community: Sustainable Future)
Hornby Ward	Mark Peters (Independent for Hornby)
Innes Ward / Deputy Mayor	Pauline Cotter (The People's Choice)
Linwood Ward	Yani Johanson (The People's Choice – Labour)
Papanui Ward	Victoria Henstock (Your Local Independent Community Voice)
Riccarton Ward	Tyla Harrison-Hunt (The People's Choice)
Spreydon Ward	Melanie Coker (The People's Choice – Labour)
Waimairi Ward	Sam MacDonald (Independent Citizens)

2019–2022

The composition of the council for the 2019–2022 term was:

Ward / role	Councillor(s)
Mayor	Lianne Dalziel (Best for Christchurch)
Banks Peninsula Ward / Deputy Mayor	Andrew Turner (The People's Choice)
Burwood Ward	Phil Mauger (Independent)
Cashmere Ward	Tim Scandrett (Independent)
Central Ward	Jake McLellan (Labour)
Coastal Ward	James Daniels (Your Vote – Your Voice Independent) – until June 2021 Celeste Donovan (Independent; from October 2021)
Fendalton Ward	James Gough (ICitz – Independent Citizens)
Halswell Ward	Anne Galloway (The People's Choice)
Harewood Ward	Aaron Keown (Independent)
Heathcote Ward	Sara Templeton (Strong Community: Healthy Environment)
Hornby Ward	Jimmy Chen (The People's Choice – Labour)
Innes Ward	Pauline Cotter (The People's Choice)
Linwood Ward	Yani Johanson (The People's Choice – Labour)
Papanui Ward	Mike Davidson (Independent)
Riccarton Ward	Catherine Chu (ICitz – Independent Citizens)
Spreydon Ward	Melanie Coker (The People's Choice – Labour)
Waimairi Ward	Sam MacDonald (ICitz – Independent Citizens)

2016–2019

The election held via postal vote on 8 October 2016, was the first to use the new wards as a result of the representation review.

Key features of the Local Government Commission's final decision included:

16 councillors, plus the mayor, with one councillor elected from each of the 16 wards (a change from the current 13 councillors elected from six wards, each with two members, apart from Banks Peninsula, which currently has a single member) Banks Peninsula Ward stays as it is Six urban community boards One Banks Peninsula community board Overall, the number of elected members stays the same as present, at 54.

Ward / role	Councillor(s)
Mayor	Lianne Dalziel (Best for Christchurch)
Deputy Mayor	Andrew Turner (The People's Choice)
Banks Peninsula Ward	Andrew Turner (The People's Choice)
Burwood Ward	Glenn Livingstone (The People's Choice – Labour)
Cashmere Ward	Tim Scandrett (Independent)
Central Ward	Deon Swiggs (Independent – Let's Get It Done)
Coastal Ward	David East (Independent)
Fendalton Ward	Jamie Gough (ICitz – Independent Citizens)
Halswell Ward	Anne Galloway (The People's Choice)
Harewood Ward	Aaron Keown (True Independent)
Heathcote Ward	Sara Templeton (Strong Communities for a Stronger Christchurch)
Hornby Ward	Jimmy Chen, (The People's Choice – Labour)
Innes Ward	Pauline Cotter (The People's Choice)
Linwood Ward	Yani Johnson (The People's Choice – Labour)
Papanui Ward	Mike Davidson (The Right Choice for Papanui & Christchurch)
Riccarton Ward	Vicki Buck
Spreydon Ward	Phil Clearwater (The People's Choice – Labour)
Waimairi Ward	Raf Manji (Independent)

2013–2016

Five of the thirteen councillors did not stand for re-election in 2013. ^[9] Another four councillors failed to get re-elected (deputy-mayor Ngaire Button, Helen Broughton, Claudia Reid, and Aaron Keown). Hence, only four councillor were returned for another term (Yani Johanson, Jimmy Chen, Glenn Livingstone, and Jamie Gough), to be joined by nine new members plus a new mayor. ^[10] For the 2013–2016 term, the composition of the council is as follows: ^[11]

Ward / role	Councillor(s)
Mayor	Lianne Dalziel (One City Together)
Deputy Mayor	Vicki Buck (A Vote for me is a Vote for You) [12]
Banks Peninsula	Andrew Turner (The People's Choice)
Burwood-Pegasus	David East (Independent), Glenn Livingstone (The People's Choice – Labour)
Fendalton-Waimairi	Jamie Gough (iCitz – Independent Citizens), Raf Manji (Independent)
Hagley-Ferrymead	Yani Johanson (The People's Choice – Labour), Paul Lonsdale (Independent)
Riccarton-Wigram	Vicki Buck (A Vote for me is a Vote for You), Jimmy Chen (The People's Choice – Labour)
Shirley-Papanui	Ali Jones (Independent), Pauline Cotter (The People's Choice – Labour)
Spreydon-Heathcote	Phil Clearwater (The People's Choice – Labour), Tim Scandrett (Independent)

2010–2013

During the 2010–2013 term, the composition of the council was as shown in the table below. The Press in an editorial described the situation during the three years as often "tumultuous" and there were many calls for a cleanout of elected members at the 2013 local body elections. ^[13] During the term, the government appointed an overseer to council (Kerry Marshall) and "came within an ace of sacking the council completely." ^[13] Five city councillors (Sue Wells, Barry Corbett, Sally Buck, Tim Carter, and Peter Beck) and the mayor (Bob Parker) did not stand for re-election. ^[9]

Ward / role	Councillor(s)
Mayor	Bob Parker (Independent)
Deputy Mayor	Ngaire Button (IC)
Banks Peninsula	Claudia Reid (Independent)
Burwood-Pegasus	Glenn Livingstone (The People's Choice), Chrissie Williams (Independent; resigned), Peter Beck (Independent; succeeded Williams)
Fendalton-Waimairi	Sally Buck (Independent), Jamie Gough (IC)
Hagley-Ferrymead	Tim Carter (Independent), Yani Johanson (The People's Choice)
Riccarton-Wigram	Helen Broughton (IC), Jimmy Chen (The People's Choice)
Shirley-Papanui	Ngaire Button (IC), Aaron Keown (Christchurch City Vision)
Spreydon-Heathcote	Barry Corbett (Independent), Sue Wells (Independent)

Organisation

Mayor, council and committees

See also: Mayor of Christchurch

Under most circumstances, the council is presided over by the mayor. At its first meeting after a local election, the council elects from among its members a Deputy Mayor, who acts as mayor in the absence and with the consent, or in the incapacity, of the mayor. The Deputy Mayor also presides at meetings if the mayor is not present. The Deputy Mayor is recommended by the mayor and is either confirmed or replaced in a vote of the first council meeting.

Councillors also serve on a number of committees. As of 2008 ^[update] , there is one Standing Committee, eight Standing Subcommittees, seven Joint Standing Committees and Working Parties (so called because they involve members of other local authorities), and 14 ad hoc subcommittees and working parties. The council can delegate certain powers to these committees, or alternatively they can consider matters in more detail and make recommendations to the full council.

Community boards

The council has established six community boards. ^{[14] [15]} These community boards deal with matters delegated to them by the council, act as representatives and advocates for their communities, and interact with community organisations and interest groups. General tasks typically delegated to local community boards are the locations of council rubbish bins, traffic lights, stop signs and pedestrian crossings; Also rubbish collection, local disturbance review and relaying information to the main council from their Ward area through the Councillor who has a right to sit on the board within their ward.

Some community boards, like the council, have created committees for specific purposes.

As of the 2022 local elections, the members of the community boards are: ^[16]

Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board

Member	Subdivision	Affiliation (if any)
Reuben Davidson	Lyttelton		The People's Choice
Cathy Lum-Webb	Lyttelton		The People's Choice
Howard Needham	Mount Herbert		Independent
Luana Swindells	Mount Herbert		The People's Choice
Lyn Leslie (Chair)	Wairewa		Independent
Nigel Harrison	Akaroa		Independent
Asif Hussain	Akaroa		Independent

Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board

Member	Ward	Affiliation (if any)
Greg Mitchell	Burwood		Independent
Tim Baker	Burwood		Labour
Jo Zervos	Coastal		Independent
Alex Hewison	Coastal		The People's Choice – Labour
Paul McMahon (Chair)	Linwood		The People's Choice – Labour
Jackie Simons	Linwood		The People's Choice – Labour

Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board

Member	Ward	Affiliation (if any)
Jason Middlemiss	Harewood		Independent Citizens
Linda Chen	Harewood		Independent Citizens
Nicola McCormick	Waimairi		Avonhead Community Group
Shirish Paranjape	Waimairi		Independent Citizens
David Cartwright	Fendalton		Independent Citizens
Bridget Williams (Chair)	Fendalton		Independent Citizens

Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board

Member	Ward	Affiliation (if any)
Sarah Brunton	Hornby		Independent
Henk Buunk	Hornby		The People's Choice – Labour
Debbie Mora	Halswell		Independent
Marie Pollisco	Halswell		The People's Choice
Helen Broughton (Chair)	Riccarton		Independent Citizens
Gamal Fouda	Riccarton		The People's Choice

Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board

Member	Ward	Affiliation (if any)
Emma Twaddell	Innes		Independent
Shreejana Chhetri	Innes		The People's Choice
Sunita Gautam	Central		Labour
John Miller	Central		Labour
Simon Britten	Papanui		Think Papanui
Emma Norrish (Chair)	Papanui		Independent

Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board

Member	Ward	Affiliation (if any)
Callum Ward (Chair)	Spreydon		The People's Choice – Labour
Roy Kenneally	Spreydon		The People's Choice – Labour
Keir Leslie	Cashmere		The People's Choice – Labour
Lee Sampson	Cashmere		The People's Choice – Labour
Simon Britten	Heathcote		Independent Voice For Heathcote
Tim Lindley	Heathcote		For Communities You'll Love To Live In

Organisational support

The day-to-day administration of the City of Christchurch is carried out by a large team of Council staff. Indeed, in everyday usage, the term the council is extended to include not just the Mayor and Councillors, but the entire local civil service. The professional head of the civil service is the Chief Executive, who is appointed by the council under contract for up to five years. The Chief Executive is assisted by four General Managers, who have an individualized portfolio. ^[17]

In early July 2013, CEO Tony Marryatt was put on indefinite leave on full pay over the council losing its accreditation with International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) to issue building consents, one of council's core functions. ^[18] General manager Jane Parfitt was appointed acting CEO. ^[19] Karleen Edwards was chief executive from June 2014 to June 2019. In July 2019, she was succeeded by Dawn Baxendale. ^[20]

Mayor and executive team

Office	Incumbent
Mayor	Phil Mauger
Deputy Mayor	Pauline Cotter
Chief Executive	Dawn Baxendale
General Manager of Citizens and Communities	Mary Richardson
General Manager Infrastructure, Consenting and Compliance	Jane Davis (mysteriously absent since Feb 2023 [21] ) Mary Richardson (acting)
General Manager Resources	Leah Scales
General Manager Strategic Policy and Performance	Lynn McClelland

Christchurch had surprisingly few town clerks, later called general manager and today chief executive, since the establishment of the role in 1862.

List of town clerks, now Chief Executives

Years	Name
1862–1875	G. Gordon [22]
1875–1901	F. T. Haskins [22]
1901–1924	H. R. Smith [22]
1924–1940	J. S. Neville OBE [22]
1940–1961	H. S. Feast OBE [22]
1961–1967	Colin Bowie [22]
1967–1973	M. B. Hayes [22]
1973–1993	John H. Gray CBE [22] [23]
1993–2003	Mike Richardson [24]
2003–2007	Lesley McTurk [24] [25]
2007–2013	Tony Marryatt [18] [25]
2013–2014	Jane Parfitt (acting) [19]
2014–2019	Dr Karleen Edwards [26]
2019	Mary Richardson (acting)
2019–2023	Dawn Baxendale
2023–present	Mary Richards (acting)

Responsibilities and services

See also: Territorial authorities of New Zealand

The council is vested with a power of "general competence" for the social, economic and cultural well-being of Christchurch. In particular, the Council has responsibility for a range of local services, including roads (except State Highways), water, sewerage, waste collection, parks and reserves, and libraries. Urban development is managed through the maintenance of a city plan and associated zoning regulations, together with building and resource consents. The council has been given extra powers to regulate certain types of business operations, notably suppliers of alcohol and brothels.

Building consents

One of the core functions of the council is to check and approve building consents. In July 2013, Christchurch City Council lost its accreditation for issuing building consents, in the middle of a rebuild period following the devastating February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. ^[27] A Crown manager, Doug Martin, was installed to reform the council's building consent department. ^[28] The Council successfully obtained reaccreditation in December 2014. ^[29]

Kerbside waste collection

Christchurch has a wheelie bin kerbside collection system, which replaced their previous system. The previous system required the resident to put a black rubbish bag out every week to the kerbside, along with a green recycling crate. With the current system, residents are given three wheelie bins: One 240 litre bin (recycling), One 140 litre bin (rubbish), and one 80 litre bin (organics). Each week, residents can put two of the three bins out. The 80 litre organics bin goes out every week and the 240 litre recycling and the 140 litre rubbish alternate.

Christchurch City Libraries

See also: Christchurch City Libraries

The Shuttle

Whilst public transport is the responsibility of regional councils, the Christchurch City Council provided a free central city service. The Shuttle operated from December 1998 to February 2011 and came to an end with the main earthquake. ^[30]

Offices

Christchurch civic offices

Christchurch's civic offices through the years (clockwise from top left): Christchurch Land Office (1862–1887), Our City (1887–1924), the Civic (1924–1980), civic offices in Tuam (1980–2010) and Hereford (2010–present) streets

1862–1887

The Christchurch Municipal Council, as it was originally called, was using the Christchurch Land Office, the first public building erected in Christchurch in 1851. ^[31]

1887–1924

On the same site, the council had the so far only purpose-built council chambers constructed, designed by Samuel Hurst Seager in a Queen Anne style. The building became known as Our City and is registered as a Category I heritage building with Heritage New Zealand (NZHPT). ^{[31] [32]}

1924–1980

Council purchased the burned out shell of the former Canterbury Hall and built new civic offices in Manchester Street. Later known as the Civic, the building was registered as a Category II heritage building with the NZHPT, ^{[31] [33]} and was demolished after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

1980–2010

Council bought the former Miller's Department Store and moved to 163 Tuam Street in 1980. ^[31] This gave rise to the occasional metonymic use of Tuam Street to refer to the municipal government. The building was registered as a Category II heritage building with the NZHPT, ^{[31] [34]} and was demolished after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

2010 to present

In August 2010, ^[31] the Council's new offices were officially opened in a refurbishment of the former Christchurch Mail Sorting Centre, designed by the Ministry of Works in 1974. The redevelopment was supervised by Wellington-based architect Ian Athfield.

The council also maintains service centres in the suburbs of Fendalton, Linwood, Papanui, Riccarton, Shirley, Sockburn and Sydenham, and in the towns of Lyttelton, Little River and Akaroa.

See also

• Christchurch City Holdings, a wholly owned investment arm of the Christchurch City Council
• Coat of arms of the City of Christchurch, granted to the Christchurch City Council in 1949

References

1. "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
2. "2022 Triennial Elections, Declaration of Result" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
3. Anderson, Charles (29 October 2013). "City council meetings coming to you live". The Press . p. A1. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
4. "Final Voter Turnout 2016". Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
5. Gamble, Warren (3 December 2011). "Winston's men ready to rumble". The Press . p. C8.
6. Stylianou, Georgina (19 April 2016). "Battle lines drawn for seats". The Press . p. A1. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
7. Independent Citizens Association: http://www.independentcitizens.org.nz
8. The People's Choice: http://www.thepeopleschoice.org.nz Archived 2 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine
9. Conway, Glenn (7 September 2013). "Christchurch City Council exit count grows". The Press . p. A4. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
10. Conway, Glen; Cairns, Lois; Young, Rachel (14 October 2013). "Many new faces at council table". The Press . p. A3. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
11. Sullivan, Clare (17 October 2013). "2013 Triennial Elections : Declaration of Results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
12. Conway, Glenn (22 October 2013). "Vicki Buck named deputy mayor". The Press . Retrieved 22 October 2013.
13. "Editorial: Changes ahead at city council". The Press . 19 August 2013. p. A10. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
14. "Community Boards". ccc.govt.nz. Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
15. "Wards, Councillors and Community Boards map". ccc.govt.nz. Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
16. "2022 Triennial Elections | DECLARATION OF RESULT" (PDF). www.ccc.govt.nz. Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
17. "CCC Organisation Chart".
18. "Mayor withdraws support for Marryatt". The Press . 4 July 2013. p. A1. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
19. "Parfitt steps up to fill council's 'hot seat'". The Press . 4 July 2013. p. A2.
20. Kenny, Lee (12 July 2019). "Pay hike for new boss". The Press . pp. 1–2. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
21. "Stuff".
22. Hay, Hamish (1989). Hay Days. Christchurch: Caxton Press. p. 186. ISBN   0908563310.
23. "1973". Christchurch City Libraries . Retrieved 13 May 2016.
24. "Lesley McTurk is new Christchurch city manager". The New Zealand Herald . 12 February 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
25. McCrone, John (25 February 2012). "Double acts in the city". The Press . Retrieved 16 September 2013.
26. Cairns, Lois (10 May 2014). "New CEO aware of challenges". The Press . Retrieved 19 April 2016.
27. Cairns, Lois; Young, Rachel (1 July 2013). "Council to be banned from issuing consents". The Press . Retrieved 1 July 2013.
28. Young, Rachel; Conway, Glenn (5 September 2013). "'Major challenges' ahead". The Press . p. A2. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
29. https://www.ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Consents-and-Licences/building-consents/Reports/Final-Report-of-the-Crown-Manager-for-Building-Control.PDF
30. Hayward, Michael (16 October 2017). "CBD shuttle trail (sic) would have to be funded by council or by cutting other services". Stuff . Retrieved 5 April 2020.
31. "Remembering our former homes as we move to the Council's new Home on Hereford". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
32. "Our City". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand . Retrieved 22 April 2011.
33. "Civic". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand . Retrieved 22 April 2011.
34. "Civic Offices, Tuam Street". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand . Retrieved 22 April 2011.

External links

• Christchurch City Council website

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