Christchurch City Council | |
---|---|
![]() | |
![]() | |
Type | |
Type | |
History | |
Founded | 1989 |
Leadership | |
Phil Mauger,Independent since 25 October 2022 | |
Pauline Cotter, The People's Choice since 25 October 2022 | |
Mary Richardson since 3 October 2024 | |
Structure | |
Seats | 17 [a] |
![]() | |
Political groups |
|
Elections | |
First-past-the-post (FPP) | |
Last election | 8 October 2022 |
Next election | 11 October 2025 |
Motto | |
Fide condita, fructu beata, spe fortis | |
Meeting place | |
![]() | |
Christchurch Civic Offices, Worcester Street frontage | |
Website | |
www | |
Footnotes | |
The Christchurch City Council (CCC) is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the 412,000 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 to the 2016 election.
The original Christchurch City Council was formed in 1862 to serve as the local municipality for Christchurch city. The jurisdiction of the original council was quite small, covering what is today just the central core of the city. By the mid-1920s the city had grown by amalgamating with some of the surrounding boroughs to include Beckenham, St Martins, Linwood, Opawa and Papanui. [3]
As a result of the 1989 local government reforms, the original council was disestablished, and on 1 November 1989 the new Christchurch City Council took over the functions of the former Christchurch City Council as well as the 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. [4]
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 elections, it has only been used since the change to Lianne Dalziel as mayor. [5]
In mid-June 2024, the Christchurch City Council announced it would be withdrawing from Local Government New Zealand after the local government bodies association raised its annual membership costs by more than NZ$20,000. Mayor Phil Mauger welcomed the withdrawal, saying that it would allow the Council to directly advocate for issues important to Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. [6]
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. [7]
Prior to the 2004 local elections, there were 24 councillors in Christchurch. At that election, the number of councillors halved to 12. [8] 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. [9]
Political groupings represented on the council are the centre-right Independent Citizens [10] and the centre-left The People's Choice (formerly Christchurch 2021). [11] 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.
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.
The council has established six community boards. [12] [13] 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: [14]
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 a team of general managers, who each have an individualised portfolio. [15]
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. [16] General manager Jane Parfitt was appointed acting CEO. [17] Karleen Edwards was chief executive from June 2014 to June 2019. In July 2019, she was succeeded by Dawn Baxendale. [18] Baxendale resigned in November 2023, and was replaced by Mary Richardson on an interim basis. [19]
List of chief executives [a]
Years | Name |
---|---|
1862–1875 | G. Gordon [20] |
1875–1901 | F. T. Haskins [20] |
1901–1924 | H. R. Smith [20] |
1924–1940 | J. S. Neville OBE [20] |
1940–1961 | H. S. Feast OBE [20] |
1961–1967 | Colin Bowie [20] |
1967–1973 | M. B. Hayes [20] |
1973–1993 | John H. Gray CBE [20] [21] [ citation needed ] |
1993–2003 | Mike Richardson [22] |
2003–2007 | Lesley McTurk [22] [23] |
2007–2013 | Tony Marryatt [16] [23] |
2013–2014 | Jane Parfitt (acting) [17] |
2014–2019 | Dr Karleen Edwards [24] |
2019 | Mary Richardson (acting) |
2019–2023 | Dawn Baxendale |
2023–present | Mary Richardson (interim) |
The current elected members were chosen at the 2022 New Zealand local elections. Since then, two by-elections have been held to fill vacancies on community boards — one in the Innes ward and another in the Lyttelton subdivision of Banks Peninsula. In addition, one vacancy was filled by appointment under section 117(3)(a) of the Local Electoral Act 2001. [25]
Christchurch City Council | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Ward | Photo | Name | Ticket | |
Mayor | At large | ![]() | Phil Mauger | Let's Get Stuff Done | |
Deputy mayor | Innes | ![]() | Pauline Cotter | The People's Choice | |
Councillor | Banks Peninsula | ![]() | Tyrone Fields | The People's Choice | |
Councillor | Burwood | ![]() | Kelly Barber | Independent for Burwood | |
Councillor | Cashmere | ![]() | Tim Scandrett | Truly Independent | |
Councillor | Central | ![]() | Jake McLellan | Labour | |
Councillor | Coastal | ![]() | Celeste Donovan | Independent – Let's Make Waves | |
Councillor | Fendalton | ![]() | James Gough | Independent Citizens | |
Councillor | Halswell | ![]() | Andrei Moore | Independent | |
Councillor | Harewood | ![]() | Aaron Keown | Independent Voice of Harewood | |
Councillor | Heathcote | ![]() | Sara Templeton | Strong Community: Sustainable Future | |
Councillor | Hornby | ![]() | Mark Peters | Independent for Hornby | |
Councillor | Linwood | ![]() | Yani Johanson | The People's Choice – Labour | |
Councillor | Papanui | ![]() | Victoria Henstock | Your Local Independent Community Voice | |
Councillor | Riccarton | ![]() | Tyla Harrison-Hunt | The People's Choice | |
Councillor | Spreydon | ![]() | Melanie Coker | The People's Choice – Labour | |
Councillor | Waimairi | ![]() | Sam MacDonald | Independent Citizens |
Community Boards | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board | |||||
Position | Subdivision | Name | Affiliation (if any) | Notes | |
Chairperson | Wairewa | Lyn Leslie | Independent | ||
Member | Lyttelton | Cathy Lum-Webb | The People's Choice | ||
Member | Mount Herbert | Howard Needham | Independent | ||
Member | Mount Herbert | Luana Swindells | The People's Choice | ||
Member | Akaroa | Nigel Harrison | Independent | ||
Member | Akaroa | Asif Hussain | Independent | ||
Member | Lyttelton | Jillian Frater | The People's Choice | Elected at the 2024 Lyttelton Sub-division Community Board By-election. [26] | |
Former Members | |||||
Member | Lyttelton | Reuben Davidson | The People's Choice | Resigned to stand as the Labour candidate for Christchurch East in the 2023 general election, which he won. [27] | |
Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board | |||||
Position | Ward | Member | Affiliation (if any) | ||
Chairperson | Linwood | Paul McMahon | The People's Choice – Labour | ||
Deputy Chairperson | Linwood | Jackie Simons | The People's Choice – Labour | ||
Member | Burwood | Greg Mitchell | Independent | ||
Member | Burwood | Tim Baker | Labour | ||
Member | Coastal | Jo Zervos | Independent | ||
Member | Coastal | Alex Hewison | The People's Choice – Labour | ||
Waimāero Fendalton–Waimairi–Harewood Community Board | |||||
Position | Ward | Member | Affiliation (if any) | Notes | |
Chairperson | Harewood | Jason Middlemiss | Independent Citizens | ||
Deputy Chairperson | Fendalton | Bridget Williams | Independent Citizens | ||
Member | Harewood | Linda Chen | Independent Citizens | ||
Member | Waimairi | Nicola McCormick | Avonhead Community Group | ||
Member | Waimairi | Shirish Paranjape | Independent Citizens | Resigning from the board 1 July 2025. Position on the board will not be filled. [28] | |
Member | Fendalton | David Cartwright | Independent Citizens | ||
Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board | |||||
Position | Ward | Member | Affiliation (if any) | Notes | |
Chairperson | Halswell | Marie Pollisco | The People's Choice | Chairperson 9 May 2024 – present, and Deputy Chair October 2022 – 9 May 2024. Appointed as chairperson after the resignation of Helen Broughton from the position. She has been the subject of concerns of a possible conflict-of-interest, as she also works for the Christchurch City Council planning department. [29] | |
Deputy Chairperson | Riccarton | Helen Broughton | Independent Citizens | Chairperson October 2022 – 9 May 2024 & Deputy Chair 9 May 2024 – present. Was initially chairperson, but resigned amid controversy over her leadership and a "dysfunctional" board. Her initial resignation was rejected, as she included the stipulation that she remain board representative for issues relating to planning. She later resigned again, that time with no stipulations, which was accepted. She remained a member of the community board in the deputy-chairperson role. [30] | |
Member 2022 | Hornby | Sarah Brunton | Independent | ||
Member | Hornby | Henk Buunk | Independent | Formerly affiliated to The People's Choice, but resigned the affiliation to vote against the appointment of Pollisco as chair. [31] | |
Member | Halswell | Debbie Mora | Independent | ||
Member | Riccarton | Luke Chandler | Independent Citizens | Appointed to the Riccarton board on 10 April 2025 following the resignation of Gamal Fouda. | |
Former Members | |||||
Member | Riccarton | Gamal Fouda | The People's Choice | October 2022 – 31 March 2025 Imam of the Al Noor Mosque, moved to Australia in early 2025. [32] | |
Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board | |||||
Position | Ward | Member | Affiliation (if any) | Notes | |
Chairperson | Papanui | Emma Norrish | Independent | ||
Deputy Chairperson | Papanui | Simon Britten | Think Papanui | ||
Member | Innes | Emma Twaddell | Independent | ||
Member | Central | Sunita Gautam | Labour | ||
Member | Central | John Miller | Labour | ||
Member | Innes | Ali Jones | Independent | Elected at the 2023 Innes community board by-election. [33] | |
Former Members | |||||
Member | Innes | Shreejana Chhetri | The People's Choice | Resigned within one month of the election result declaration, triggering a by-election. [34] | |
Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board | |||||
Position | Ward | Member | Affiliation (if any) | ||
Chairperson | Spreydon | Callum Ward | The People's Choice – Labour | ||
Deputy Chairperson | Cashmere | Keir Leslie | The People's Choice – Labour | ||
Member | Spreydon | Roy Kenneally | The People's Choice – Labour | ||
Member | Cashmere | Lee Sampson | The People's Choice – Labour | ||
Member | Heathcote | Will Hall | Independent Voice For Heathcote | ||
Member | Heathcote | Tim Lindley | For Communities You'll Love To Live In | ||
The 16 councillors were each individually elected from one of 16 electoral wards: [35] [13]
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.
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. [52] A Crown manager, Doug Martin, was installed to reform the council's building consent department. [53] The Council successfully obtained reaccreditation in December 2014. [54]
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.
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 February 22 earthquake. [55]
The Christchurch Municipal Council, as it was originally called, was using the Christchurch Land Office, the first public building erected in Christchurch in 1851. [56]
On the same site, the council had the so far only purpose-built Municipal chambers constructed, designed by Samuel Hurst Seager in a Queen Anne style. Many years after the council moved out in 1920 the building became known as Our City and is registered as a Category I heritage building with Heritage New Zealand (NZHPT). [56] [57]
Council purchased the burned out shell of the former Canterbury Hall and built new Municipal offices in Manchester Street. Later it became known as The Civic, after the name of the Restaurant and bar of the same name. The building was registered as a Category II heritage building with the NZHPT, [56] [58] and was demolished after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
Council bought the former Miller's Department Store and moved to 163 Tuam Street in 1980. [56] 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, [56] [59] and was demolished after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
In August 2010, [56] 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, Hornby, Linwood, Papanui, Riccarton, Shirley, and in the towns of Lyttelton, Little River and Akaroa.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)