Category: This Is Christchurch
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Allegations Made Against Central City Councillor
Most of us reading this will know that during the recent local government elections in Christchurch, allegations of improper conduct (amounting to a form of sexual harrassment) were levelled against a sitting Councillor in the Christchurch Central ward. The allegations were first reported to the Mayor in May 2019 and were kept quiet at that…
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Long Term Ramifications of Insufficient Oversight of Local Government
The 2010/2011 earthquakes in Christchurch were a huge wakeup call for local government in terms of its capability and willingness to ensure high standards were being achieved in building safety. We believe that the standards subsequently exposed in Christchurch were woefully inadequate. There had been a long legacy in the city of failure to properly…
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If the Government wants to increase local election voter turnout they should mandate STV for all councils
What is completely wrong is that a council can choose their own electoral system. We don’t believe people would find STV too difficult to understand. Dunedin City Council, as it turns out, has all of its councillors elected at large (no wards) and uses STV to elect them and the mayor. This should be a…
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Solution To Low Local Election Turnouts: Stop Disenfranchising Non-Ratepayers.
Well the local government elections are all over, and crocodile tears are being wept over the poor turnout, which is practically a record low across New Zealand. It has been claimed by a former Labour president in Auckland that the local government structure there which puts control of transport and other significant municipial functions outside…