Christchurch City Council

The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the 385,500 people of Christchurch.[1] Since October 2013, the Mayor of Christchurch is Lianne Dalziel, who succeeded Bob Parker.[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.

Christchurch City Council
Type
Type
History
Founded1862
Leadership
Chief Executive
Dawn Baxendale
Elections
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.

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 most recent elections, in 2016, 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

2019–present

Based on preliminary results, the composition of the council for the 2019–2022 term is:

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 Phil Mauger (Independent)
Cashmere Ward Tim Scandrett (Independent)
Central Ward Jake McLellan (Labour)
Costal Ward James Daniels (Your Vote – Your Voice Independent)
Fendalton Ward Jamie 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 current 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)
Costal 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), Peter Beck (Independent)
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, 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 eight community boards. 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.

Banks Peninsula Local Board

Member Affiliation and subdivision
Jamie Stewart (Chair) Independent – Akaroa
Nigel Harrison Independent – Akaroa
Tyrone Fields The People's Choice (Labour) – Lyttelton
Reuben Davidson The People's Choice (Labour) – Lyttelton
Howard Needham Independent – Mount Herbert
Tori Peden Independent – Wairewa
Andrew Turner The People's Choice – (Councillor)
Scott Winter Independent – Mt Herbert

Coastal Burwood Local Board

Member Affiliation and subdivision
Kelly Barber (Chair) The People's Choice (Labour) – Coastal
James Daniels Your Vote - Your Voice Independent – (Councillor)
Bebe Frayle The People's Choice (Labour) – Burwood
Linda Stewart JP Independent – Burwood
Phil Mauger Independent – (Councillor)
Jo Zervos Independent – Coastal

Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board

Member Affiliation and subdivision
Sam MacDonald ICitz – (Councillor)
David John Cartwright (Chair) ICitz – Fendalton
Jason Middlemiss ICitz – Harewood
Bridget Williams ICitz – Fendalton
Linda Chen ICitz – Harewood
Shirish Paranjape ICitz – Waimairi
James Gough ICitz – (Councillor)
Aaron Keown Independent – (Councillor)
Mike Wall Independent – Waimairi

Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board

Member Affiliation and subdivision
Mike Mora (Chair) The People's Choice (Labour) – Hornby
Helen Broughton ICitz – Riccarton
Andrei Moore The People's Choice – Haslwell
Debbie Mora Independent – Community Focused – Halswell
Mark Peters Independent For Hornby – Hornby
Catherine Chu ICitz – (Councillor)
Anne Galloway The People's Choice – (Councillor)
Jimmy Chen The People's Choice (Labour) – (Councillor)
Gamal Fouda The People's Choice (Labour) – Riccarton

Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board

Member Affiliation and subdivision
Sally Buck Independent – Central
Michelle Lomax Labour – Central
Darrell Latham Independent – Linwood
Tim Lindley For Communities You'll Love To Live In – Heathcote
Alexandra Davids (Chair) Your Positive Voice For Linwood – Linwood
Jackie Simons The People's Choice (Labour) – Linwood
Jake McLellan Labour – (Councillor)
Sarah Templeton Strong Community: Healthy Environment – (Councillor)
Yani Johanson The People's Choice (Labour) – (Councillor)

Papanui-Innes Community Board

Member Affiliation and subdivision
Ali Jones (Chair) Independent – Innes
Emma Norrish Independent – Papanui
Pauline Cotter The People's Choice – (Councillor)
Mike Davidson Independent – (Councillor)
Simon Britten Think Papanui – Papanui
Emma Twaddell The Independent People's Voice – Innes

Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board

Member Affiliation and subdivision
Karolin Potter (Chair) The People's Choice – Spreydon
Melanie Coker The People's Choice (Labour) – (Councillor)
Keir Leslie The People's Choice (Labour) – Cashmere
Lee Sampson The People's Choice (Labour) – Cashmere
Tim Scandrett Independent – (Councillor)
Callum Stewart-Ward The People's Choice (Labour) – Spreydon

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 eight General Managers, each with his or her own portfolio.[14]

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.[15] General manager Jane Parfitt was appointed acting CEO.[16] Karleen Edwards was chief executive from June 2014 to June 2019. In July 2019, she was succeeded by Dawn Baxendale.[17]

Mayor and executive team

Office Incumbent
Mayor Lianne Dalziel
Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner
Chief Executive Dawn Baxendale
General Manager of Citizens and Communities Mary Richardson
General Manager of Consenting and Compliance Leonie Rae
General Manager of City Services David Adamson
General Manager of Corporate Services Anne Columbus
General Manager of Finance and Commercial Carol Bellette
General Manager of Strategy and Planning Brendan Anstiss

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[18]
1875–1901 F. T. Haskins[18]
1901–1924 H. R. Smith[18]
1924–1940 J. S. Neville OBE[18]
1940–1961 H. S. Feast OBE[18]
1961–1967 C. S. Bowie[18]
1967–1973 M. B. Hayes[18]
1973–1989 John H. Gray CBE[18][19]
1989–1993 John H. Gray CBE
1993–2003 Mike Richardson[20]
2003–2007 Lesley McTurk[20][21]
2007–2013 Tony Marryatt[15][21]
2013–2014 Jane Parfitt (acting)[16]
2014–2019 Dr Karleen Edwards[22]
2019 Mary Richardson (acting)
2019–present Dawn Baxendale

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. With effect from 8 July 2013, Christchurch City Council has been stripped of its accreditation for issuing building consents. This comes in the middle of a rebuild period following the devastating February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.[23] City Councillors found out earlier in June through the media that International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) had written to Council and threatened to withdraw accreditation, with Council's chief executive officer, Tony Marryatt, replying that mayor "Parker and other councillors were kept in the dark because he was confident staff were addressing issues raised by IANZ, and that the June 28 deadline would be met."[24] A Crown manager, Doug Martin, has been installed to reform the council's consenting department.[25] Marryatt lost his job over the affair, but will stay on the payroll until November 2013 and will receive a total of $500,000 before he leaves.[26] Parker, who had backed the controversial CEO over the years, took his part of the responsibility and decided not to stand for re-election for a third term as mayor.[27]

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.[28]

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.[29]

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).[29][30]

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,[29][31] 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.[29] 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,[29][32] and was demolished after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

2010 to present

In August 2010,[29] 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

References
  1. "Subnational Population Estimates: At 30 June 2019". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. "Elections 2007, Results — Electoral Officer's Declaration". Christchurch City Council. 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  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". 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 2016-12-02 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). 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. "CCC Organisation Chart" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  15. "Mayor withdraws support for Marryatt". The Press. 4 July 2013. p. A1. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  16. "Parfitt steps up to fill council's 'hot seat'". The Press. 4 July 2013. p. A2.
  17. Kenny, Lee (12 July 2019). "Pay hike for new boss". The Press. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  18. Hay, Hamish (1989). Hay Days. Christchurch: Caxton Press. p. 186. ISBN 0908563310.
  19. "1973". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  20. "Lesley McTurk is new Christchurch city manager". The New Zealand Herald. 12 February 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  21. McCrone, John (25 February 2012). "Double acts in the city". The Press. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  22. Cairns, Lois (10 May 2014). "New CEO aware of challenges". The Press. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  23. Cairns, Lois; Young, Rachel (1 July 2013). "Council to be banned from issuing consents". The Press. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  24. Cairns, Lois; Young, Rachel (15 June 2013). "Marryatt regrets letter surprise". The Press. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  25. Young, Rachel; Conway, Glenn (5 September 2013). "'Major challenges' ahead". The Press. p. A2. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  26. Conway, Glenn (13 September 2013). "Controversial Marryatt to leave Christchurch council". The Press. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  27. Conway, Glenn (6 July 2013). "'This happened on my watch' – Parker". The Press. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  28. 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.
  29. "Remembering our former homes as we move to the Council's new Home on Hereford". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  30. "Our City". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  31. "Civic". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  32. "Civic Offices, Tuam Street". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
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