UC’s Department of Political Science has organised a first of its kind – a speed-dating event for the public to meet and greet all city council and community board candidates. Held at the University of Canterbury campus, candidates each made two-minute speech’s laying out their vision for Christchurch. This was followed by “speed voting”, where candidates from each ward were available in the C Block lecture theatres to meet residents from their wards and discuss policies.
Ben Irwin live blogged the event.
7:45pm
And it’s all over. Next Wednesday UCPOLS will be running a mayoral debate from 1-3 pm on campus. Further information can be found on the UCPOLS Facebook page
7:44pm – Organiser Dr Bronwyn Hayward: “We’ve got fantastic students that are amazing.”
7:30pm – Melanie Riwai-Couch
Riwai-Couch says the previous council has had issues around diversity. “We need a good mix of people that are older and younger and from different walks of life.”
The council needs people that “understand the demands of family”.
She has worked of Ngai Tahu for two years as education manager.
“We need councilors that are capable, competent and connected to our communities,” she says.
7:27pm – Tim Scandrett
“I believe strongly that Christchurch should be run with the interest of the rate payer at heart.”
Scandrett has been a member of the community board for 6 years, and says we have to get the basics right first.
Communities are “the soul of our city”.
7:24pm – Erin Jackson
She was one of the founding members of the Student Volunteer Army.
“It’s time we had a different type of councillor.”
The city needs councillors who are “not afraid to ask questions or challenge the status quo”.
Jackson says she is one of the few candidates who is truly independent.
7:22pm – Jeremy Calcroft
His vision is “some what of a long term vision”.
“I want a city that is 100% carbon neutral.”
“The inner city is basically a clean slate.”
Calcroft says he wants transport that is “cheap, reliable and gets people to where they want to go”.
He wants strong and energy efficient housing.
Affordable homes for first homebuyers is a priority.
7:20pm – Noeline Allan
She says the council needs “good financial plans, so we don’t mortgage the next generation.”
“We need a council that cares about the vulnerable and poor,” she says.
7:05pm – John Stringer
Stringer was born and raised in the ward.
“I’m a local person born and breed.”
At the council there is a “disconnect between governance and management”.
“We must have strong leadership on the Christchurch City Council, and that is what’s lacking.”
“One of my strengths is I’m able to work across the table with people that disagree.”
“I want the big ticket items brought down to the community levels.”
7:03pm – Ngaire Button
“It’s been a real privilege to serve in that role (deputy mayor)”
“It will take all of us working together.”
“What matters is that everybody in Christchurch has an opportunity.”
7:01pm – Brad Maxwell
He says he has 30 years business experience.
“My desire for my city comes from the heart.”
Maxwell says the council has “ruined” the city.
6:58pm – Aaron Keown
Keown opened by saying his first term “hasn’t been perfect”.
Says he was vital in the major cycleways project.
The city needs a CEO that doesn’t just run the city but that also works with the people.
6:55pm – Ali Jones
“The next three years holds so much potential for Christchurch and its outer suburbs.”
Jones says the next council will be a “recovery council”.
“We need councillors who can grasp complex issues.”
6:53pm – Pauline Cotter
“Our city is based on social justice and gives everyone a fair go.”
Says the current council has a “lack of transparency and culture or supreme control”.
“We must learn from these errors and move into the future.”
6:50pm – Jonathan Corfe
“Christchurch needs to be a city that’s vibrant, dynamic and future proof.”
Corfe says transport issues are one of the city’s biggest challenges, especially when it comes to rail.
“Take congestion off the road.
6:35pm – Marie Hazledine-Barber
“I see a city built from ground up.”
Hazledine-Barber wants a city lead by a council that is “part of the solution”.
Her vision includes “a thriving central city covering all social needs”, from young to old.
She wants a city that retains its heritage and a council that fights for that.
“Above all, a city that retains its character.”
6:33pm – Robin Nuthall
On her version of Christchurch, she says: “We should be green, we should be beautiful.”
“We should all be involved and be proud of what we build.”
Nuthall says “we want a world-renowned city”.
6:31pm – Glenn Livingstone
As a sitting councillor, Livingstone says, “I’ve been with my community throughout the earthquakes.”
He’s also proud of his role during the marches over school closures earlier in the year.
“We’ve stood amongst the community.”
6:29pm – Victor Cattermole
Cattermole says his priority is “making sure people’s homes were fixed properly”.
He is running for both council and mayor.
Cattermole says he also wants to work on how the city can provide incentives for people coming out of university.
6:22pm – Paul Edward-Young
Edward-Young says council is about “people, relationships and communities”.
“It’s not about a building project.”
He wants “a city where we’re collectively committed”.
“It’s people who will determine what the city will be.”
6:20pm – Claudia Reid
“It’s great there seems to be some real interest in this election.”
“There have been a lot of words about the rebuild, but a city is not about the buildings alone,” says Reid. “A city is about people.”
She added that cycle lanes should play a big party in the city’s future.
“A city designed for people not cars.”
6:17pm – Raf Manji
Manji says now is the time for a new dream for Christchurch.
“Christchurch stands out as a great place to live.”
“The world is changing at pace.”
“Cities can crumble, cities can go bust, and cities can disappear.”
“What is our purpose, what do we want?”
“A truly sustainable and resilient city is the only answer.”
6:15pm – Drucilla Kingi-Patterson
Kingi-Patterson says she is a creative thinker.
“Most people can’t handle me because I think outside the square.”
She says the way council operates needs to change.
“At the moment it’s all done behind closed doors.”
She wants to set up a strategic planning office in town.
She is also running for Canterbury District Health Board.
6:12pm – Jamie Gough
Gough says he’s “absolutely loved” being on the council for the past three years.
However, he has admitted to some mistakes.
“I got a few things wrong, I’m human.”
He says there has been “a lot of silo mentality inside the council”.
“The last years on council have been challenging.”
He adds: “We have an incredible opportunity to build the newest city in the world.”
6:08pm – Paul Lonsdale
Lonsdale says the new council needs to “rebuild trust”.
“There’s a lot of disengagement,” says Lonsdale. “We haven’t seen the young people and that’s a real concern.”
Lonsdale says a new CEO is his first priority.
“We need to build a high-performing management team.”
“They need to consistently work to minimise rates.”
He also wants to rebuild trust with CERA and CCDU.
6:06pm – Yani Johanson
Johanson says his vision is for a smart and creative city.
He says an environmental sustainable city is key.
Johanson says he supports an inclusive council that stands up for Christchurch
“I believe as a council we have a duty to stand up for our citizens, despite what the government try’s to do.”
6:03pm – Lisle Hood
Hood says the preservation of heritage buildings is very important to him.
“The government has go that so, so wrong.”
“We need some good decision made about our city and I don’t think the Government is the right one to make them.”
Hood says the community needs “proper consultation”.
He says the council needs to “flatten off the management system”.
“If people are not performing they need to be changed.”
6:01pm – Wayne Hawker
“The rebuild starts here and now.”
Hawker says honesty and integrity are his key traits.
“I stand for what I believe in, and I believe in what I stand for.”
5:58pm – Wendy Gilchrist
Gilchrist is currently an elected member of district health board.
She wants “a council that collaborates and is not in conflict”. To achieve this, the right people are needed around the table, she says.
“It’s really important that we’re all in this together.”
“We’re going to have a very different brief to any other councillors before.”
5:46pm – Nathan Durkin
“Since this is speed dating I’ll try and pick you up all quick.”
Durkin says his experience with community and charity groups is a big advantage.
“I’m super-passionate about community engagement and development.”
Durkin says he wants city residents to be “respectfully listened to”.
“I want to see a city in ten years that’s full of life.”
5:54pm – Alexandra Davids
Davids says she doesn’t have “big business knowledge”.
“We also need councillors who want to be there for the people.”
“I believe I can be that person and advocate.”
The main concerns for residents are housing and infrastructure, she said
5:52pm – David Green
Green starts off by quoting the bible.
Green says he has a dream that “transparency is obvious in all decision making” at council.
He also wants elected councillors to refrain from going on spending sprees.
5:45 pm – Mike Mora
Mora says the most important decision for council is to “appoint a CEO that will bring this council bureaucratic organisation back in control”.
“The people will then have a voice again in their city.”
As a community board member, Mora says he hasn’t been able to “represent you the way we want to”.
“We really need to get the horse off the jockey, and the jockey back on the horse so we can ride this horse back into the city.”
5:42pm – Sara Harnett
Harnett says her vision for Christchurch is “a great environment to live and work”.
She wants to see a “vibrant” city centre.
“Plenty of green space a parks; something that has always been important to Christchurch.”
She wants a thriving arts community and a university that her children want to go to.
5:40pm – Peter Laloli
Laloi has lived in the ward since 1967.
He was in the New Zealand Police for 42 years and has been a community board member for last 12.
The ward has “a lot of broken people”.
“The growth out here is absolutely tremendous but the infrastructure hasn’t kept up.”
“This is your community, this is your vote.”
5:38pm – Jimmy Chen
“It has not been business at usual.”
Chen has been involved in four different council committees. This has helped him be “fully informed”.
In the next three years his commitments are:
- repairing infrastructure
- repairing council owned facilities
- rebuilding a safe, clean and green, multicultural and attractive city centre.
5:37pm – Vicki Buck
Buck is standing after being out of local government politics for 15 years.
“Never thought I’d stand again, but determined that the city needs to thrive.”
“A city is just about making the connections between people wonderful, exciting and magic.”
5:35pm – Helen Broughton
Broughton says she has taken a leadership role in Christchurch post-earthquake.
“We’ve got to do some real financial work on the council’s budget.“
She wants to make sure the city gets “what we are owed” from insurance companies and the government.
She also says everybody should have a warm and comfortable home “
On her vision for the city, she says: “We need a city that is dynamic and attractive and the most interesting city in New Zealand.”
