The People's Choice (political ticket)

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The People's Choice
Leader Paul McMahon
Founded1995
Ideology Social democracy
Political position Centre-left
ColorsRed
Christchurch City Council
5 / 17
Christchurch Community Board members
14 / 36
Environment Canterbury
2 / 13
Website
http://www.peopleschoice.co.nz/

The People's Choice (previously Christchurch 2021) is a centre-left political ticket that contests elections for the Christchurch City Council, and the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Contents

The group serves as the council's major left of centre bloc, opposing the centre-right group Independent Citizens. The group has formal connections to the Labour Party.

History

The People's Choice was founded as Christchurch 2021 in 1995. [1]

Megan Woods, later a cabinet minister and MP, was Christchurch 2021's mayoral candidate in 2007. [2]

The ticket has an association with the Labour Party, and although it has never run a mayoral candidate under its modern title, it tends to support centre-left mayors both on council and during election campaigns. [3]

At the 2019 elections, People's Choice candidates won seven seats in the Christchurch City Council. [4]

Throughout its existence, The People's Choice has been associated with national left-wing parties, including the Labour Party, the Alliance, and the Green Party. As of the 2025 Christchurch City Council election, it has a strong association with the Labour Party, receiving logistical and volunteer support from local Labour branches in Christchurch, and a memorandum of understanding with the Green Party. [2]

Policies and platform

The People's Choice sits to the left of the centre-right Independent Citizens grouping on council. [5]

In its 2016 policy manifesto, the ticket voiced support for a rental warrant of fitness and "supporting Māori economic development through partnership with Ngāi Tahu and other iwi". [6]

Organisation

Representatives for The People's Choice make a commitment to pay a portion of their salary as an elected member to the ticket's organisation. Melanie Coker, campaign manager of The People's Choice for the 2025 council elections, has said that this enables the ticket to support candidates who may not otherwise have the means to support a campaign by themselves, increasing political diversity. The People's Choice does not normally contest every seat in Christchurch, prioritising electoral contests where its candidates have the highest chance of victory. Paul McMahon, co-chair of The People's Choice as of 2025, cited Harewood ward as an area that would likely be unwinnable for the ticket due to the area's right-wing bent. [2]

References

  1. ↑ Day, Louis (7 December 2020). "The People's Choice: What does it represent in Christchurch local body politics?". Star News.
  2. 1 2 3 Mathias, Shanti (11 September 2025). "The secrets of one of New Zealand's most enduring political tickets". The Spinoff . Archived from the original on 11 September 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Stylianou, Georgina (27 August 2016). "Is democracy worth fighting for?". The Press . Stuff. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Law, Tina (13 October 2019). "Christchurch's city council now has three twenty-somethings and slightly more women". Stuff . Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Law, Tina (15 January 2022). "Party politics: A blessing or a curse for local government?". Stuff .
  6. ↑ "The People's Choice : 2016 Policy Document" (PDF). Static1.squarespace.com. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
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