The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch, New Zealand. The council is elected for three-year terms; at each election voters elect a mayor, city councillors and community board members. There are current 15 city councillors and 37 community board members across 6 community boards.
The mayor, Phil Mauger, is an independent (he ran with the slogan "Let's Get Stuff Done" on the ballot); he has generally been categorised as centre-right. [1] On the left, three city councillors affiliate exclusively to The People's Choice, one exclusively to the New Zealand Labour Party, and two to both groups. On the right, two city councillors affiliate to Independent Citizens. Eight city councillors (of various political leanings) are independents with no stated affiliations.
The composition of the council for the 2022 term is:
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 |
Board member Jillian Frater was elected at a by-election in 2024. [2] Reuben Davidson resigned to stand as the Labour candidate for Christchurch East in the 2023 general election, which he won. [3]
Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Subdivision | Name | Affiliation (if any) | |
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 | |
Former Members | ||||
Member | Lyttelton | Reuben Davidson | The People's Choice |
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 |
Board member Shirish Paranjape resigned from the board 1 July 2025; the vacancy will not be filled until the 2025 election. [4]
Waimāero Fendalton–Waimairi–Harewood Community Board | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Ward | Member | Affiliation (if any) | |
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 | |
Member | Fendalton | David Cartwright | Independent Citizens |
Helen Broughton was chairperson from the 2022 election until 9 May 2024. She reigned amid controversy over her leadership and the state of "dysfunction" on the board. Her initial resignation was rejected, as she included the stipulation that she remain board representative for issues relating to planing. She later resigned again, that time with no stipulations (which was accepted). She remained a member of the community board, serving as deputy chairperson. [5] Marie Pollisco took over from Broughton. Polilisco was previously deputy chairperson. She has been the subject of concerns around a possible conflict of interest, as she also works for the city council's planning department. [6]
Henk Buunk was formerly affiliated to The People's Choice, but resigned the affiliation to vote against the appointment of Pollisco as chair. [7]
Gamal Fouda, the Imam of Al Noor Mosque, was a board member from the 2022 election until 31 March 2025. He moved to Australia in early 2025 and thus resigned from the board. [8] Luke Chandler was appointed to the vacancy.
Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Ward | Member | Affiliation (if any) | |
Chairperson | Halswell | Marie Pollisco | The People's Choice | |
Deputy Chairperson | Riccarton | Helen Broughton | Independent Citizens | |
Member 2022 | Hornby | Sarah Brunton | Independent | |
Member | Hornby | Henk Buunk | Independent | |
Member | Halswell | Debbie Mora | Independent | |
Member | Riccarton | Luke Chandler | Independent Citizens | |
Former Members | ||||
Member | Riccarton | Gamal Fouda | The People's Choice |
Ali Jones was elected at a by-election in 2023. [9] Shreejana Chhetri resigned within one month of the election, triggering a by-election. [10]
Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Ward | Member | Affiliation (if any) | |
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 | |
Former Members | ||||
Member | Innes | Shreejana Chhetri | The People's Choice |
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 composition of the council for the 2019–2022 term was:
Position | Name | Ticket | Ward | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mayor | Lianne Dalziel | Best for Christchurch | At large | |
Deputy mayor | Andrew Turner | The People's Choice | Banks Peninsula | |
Councillor | Phil Mauger | Independent | Burwood | |
Councillor | Tim Scandrett | Independent | Cashmere | |
Councillor | Jake McLellan | Labour | Central | |
Councillor | James Daniels (until June 2021) | Your Vote – Your Voice Independent | Coastal | |
Councillor | Celeste Donovan (from October 2021) | Independent | ||
Councillor | James Gough | Independent Citizens | Fendalton | |
Councillor | Anne Galloway | The People's Choice | Halswell | |
Councillor | Aaron Keown | Independent | Harewood | |
Councillor | Sara Templeton | Strong Community: Healthy Environment | Heathcote | |
Councillor | Jimmy Chen | The People's Choice – Labour | Hornby | |
Councillor | Pauline Cotter | The People's Choice | Innes | |
Councillor | Yani Johanson | The People's Choice – Labour | Linwood | |
Councillor | Mike Davidson | Independent | Papanui | |
Councillor | Catherine Chu | Independent Citizens | Riccarton | |
Councillor | Melanie Coker | The People's Choice – Labour | Spreydon | |
Councillor | Sam MacDonald | Independent Citizens | Waimairi |
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.
Position | Name | Ticket | Ward | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mayor | Lianne Dalziel | Best for Christchurch | At large | |
Deputy mayor | Andrew Turner | The People's Choice | Banks Peninsula | |
Councillor | Glenn Livingstone | The People's Choice – Labour | Burwood | |
Councillor | Tim Scandrett | Independent | Cashmere | |
Councillor | Deon Swiggs | Independent – Let's Get It Done | Central | |
Councillor | David East | Independent | Coastal | |
Councillor | Jamie Gough | Independent Citizens | Fendalton | |
Councillor | Anne Galloway | The People's Choice | Halswell | |
Councillor | Aaron Keown | True Independent | Harewood | |
Councillor | Sara Templeton | Strong Communities for a Stronger Christchurch | Heathcote | |
Councillor | Jimmy Chen | The People's Choice – Labour | Hornby | |
Councillor | Pauline Cotter | The People's Choice | Innes | |
Councillor | Yani Johnson | The People's Choice – Labour | Linwood | |
Councillor | Mike Davidson | The Right Choice for Papanui & Christchurch | Papanui | |
Councillor | Vicki Buck | Riccarton | ||
Councillor | Phil Clearwater | The People's Choice – Labour | Spreydon | |
Councillor | Raf Manji | Independent | Waimairi | |
Five of the thirteen councillors did not stand for re-election in 2013. [11] 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. [12] For the 2013–2016 term, the composition of the council is as follows: [13]
Position | Name | Ticket | Ward | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mayor | Lianne Dalziel | One City Together | At large | |
Deputy mayor | Vicki Buck [14] | A Vote for me is a Vote for You | Riccarton–Wigram | |
Councillor | Jimmy Chen | The People's Choice – Labour | ||
Councillor | Andrew Turner | The People's Choice | Banks Peninsula | |
Councillor | David East | Independent | Burwood–Pegasus | |
Councillor | Glenn Livingstone | The People's Choice – Labour | ||
Councillor | Jamie Gough | Independent Citizens | Fendalton–Waimairi | |
Councillor | Raf Manji | Independent | ||
Councillor | Yani Johanson | The People's Choice – Labour | Hagley–Ferrymead | |
Councillor | Paul Lonsdale | Independent | ||
Councillor | Ali Jones | Independent | Shirley–Papanui | |
Councillor | Pauline Cotter | The People's Choice – Labour | ||
Councillor | Phil Clearwater | The People's Choice – Labour | Spreydon–Heathcote | |
Councillor | Tim Scandrett | Independent | ||
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. [15] During the term, the government appointed an overseer to council (Kerry Marshall) and "came within an ace of sacking the council completely." [15] 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. [11]
Position | Name | Ticket | Ward | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mayor | Bob Parker | Independent | At large | |
Deputy mayor | Ngaire Button | Independent Citizens | Shirley–Papanui | |
Councillor | Aaron Keown | Christchurch City Vision | ||
Councillor | Claudia Reid | Independent | Banks Peninsula | |
Councillor | Glenn Livingstone | The People's Choice | Burwood–Pegasus | |
Councillor | Chrissie Williams (resigned) | Independent | ||
Councillor | Peter Beck (succeeded Williams) | Independent | ||
Councillor | Sally Buck | Independent | Fendalton–Waimairi | |
Councillor | Jamie Gough | Independent Citizens | ||
Councillor | Tim Carter | Independent | Hagley–Ferrymead | |
Councillor | Yani Johanson | The People's Choice | ||
Councillor | Helen Broughton | Independent Citizens | Riccarton–Wigram | |
Councillor | Jimmy Chen | The People's Choice | ||
Councillor | Barry Corbett | Independent | Spreydon–Heathcote | |
Councillor | Sue Wells | Independent | ||
During the 2007–2010 term, the composition of the council was as shown in the table below. The mayor was elected at large. There were seven wards, with six of them electing two councillors each, plus one councillor in the Banks Peninsula ward. [16] Bob Parker won his first mayoral election following the amalgamation of Christchurch City and Banks Peninsula District in 2006; Parker had been Banks Peninsula's last mayor. He defeated Megan Woods, who later became an MP for the Labour Party. [17]
Claudia Reid won her first term on the council for the Banks Peninsula ward, defeating Steve Lowndes who would later become chairman of Environment Canterbury. In the Shirley–Papanui ward, Norm Withers and Ngaire Button were elected, with Aaron Keown coming in third place. Keown has since won most subsequent elections. [17]
Position | Name | Ticket | Ward | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mayor | Bob Parker | Independent | At large | |
Deputy mayor | Norm Withers [18] | Independent | Shirley–Papanui | |
Councillor | Ngaire Button | Christchurch City Vision | ||
Councillor | Claudia Reid | Independent | Banks Peninsula | |
Councillor | Gail Sheriff | Independent | Burwood–Pegasus | |
Councillor | Chrissie Williams | Christchurch 2021 | ||
Councillor | Sally Buck | Independent | Fendalton–Waimairi | |
Councillor | Mike Wall | Independent Citizens | ||
Councillor | David Cox | Independent | Hagley–Ferrymead | |
Councillor | Yani Johanson | Christchurch 2021 | ||
Councillor | Helen Broughton | Independent Citizens | Riccarton–Wigram | |
Councillor | Bob Shearing | Independent Citizens | ||
Councillor | Sue Wells | Independent | Spreydon–Heathcote | |
Councillor | Barry Corbett | Independent | ||
During the 2004–2007 term, the composition of the council was as shown in the table below. The mayor was elected at large. At the time of the 2004 local elections, there were six wards electing two councillors each. [19] Garry Moore won his third mayoral election, with Aaron Keown coming a distant second; Keown has since the 2010 local elections won most subsequent elections as a city councillor. [20] Denis O'Rourke, who had been a councillor since the 1989 local elections, stood in the Hagley–Ferrymead ward and came fifth. [21]
On 6 March 2006, Banks Peninsula District was merged with Christchurch City. [22] Banks Peninsula's outgoing mayor, Bob Parker, won the by-election for the new Banks Peninsula ward and was sworn in as a city councillor on 9 March 2006. [23]
Position | Name | Ticket | Ward | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mayor | Garry Moore | Christchurch 2021 | At large | |
Deputy mayor | Carole Evans [24] | Independent | Burwood–Pegasus [25] | |
Councillor | Gail Sheriff | Christchurch 2021 | ||
Councillor | Norm Withers | Independent | Shirley–Papanui [26] | |
Councillor | Graham Condon | Independent | ||
Councillor | Pat Harrow | Independent Citizens | Fendalton–Waimairi [27] | |
Councillor | Sally Buck | Independent | ||
Councillor | David Cox | Independent | Hagley–Ferrymead [21] | |
Councillor | Anna Crighton | Christchurch 2021 | ||
Councillor | Helen Broughton | Independent Citizens | Riccarton–Wigram [28] | |
Councillor | Bob Shearing | Independent Citizens | ||
Councillor | Barry Corbett | Independent | Spreydon–Heathcote [29] | |
Councillor | Sue Wells | Independent | ||
Councillor | Bob Parker (from March 2006) | Independent | Banks Peninsula | |