This week we have two CCC topics... The first is explaining to us the proposed changes to the electoral boundaries for Local Government in Christchurch. I promised that we would consider this recently and now is our chance to hear what is being discussed at the Council table which we are able to … [Read more...]
Local representation review
Every few years Local Government is required to undertake a review of the number of people around the Council table. This is required by law. One Councillor, has advocated halving the number of Councillors. This demonstrated a complete lack of understanding about how Councillor fees are set. The … [Read more...]
Democracy and STV – why it is important
Nathaniel Herz-Edinger is part of a group in Christchurch who are getting signatures on a petition to get Christchurch City Council to hold a poll to consider changing our voting for CCC to STV. He explains his motivation here... Scroll down to how you can be involved A Story... Once upon … [Read more...]
A few links for you…
Review of last year’s Local Body election: There is a Parliamentary enquiry into the last Local Body election. We encourage people to read this document and to make a submission before the end of February - even a short submission is good. Very few people know about … [Read more...]
Are we witnessing the fact that the next Mayoral campaign is on:
I guess, because I participated in Mayoral debates for too many years, my political nose twitches very quickly. In the Press “Letters to the Editor” yesterday there was this letter. Under the headline “Explanation needed” it said: “Congratulations to John Minto for the work he has done … [Read more...]
We can do better: Inspiring, engaging and encouraging local voting
An Open Letter calling for an Electoral Forum To: Dawn Baxendale, CEO Christchurch City Council Bill Bayfield, CEO Environment Canterbury David Meates, CEO Canterbury District Health Board We can do better: Inspiring, engaging and encouraging local voting I am writing with … [Read more...]
Rosemary writes…
Rosemary Neave on duty this week while Garry is away. A focus on local elections - some musings and Jean Drage into share her wisdom. A couple of things I noticed (apart from my comments elsewhere): Beautiful people seem more likely to be elected the 150 words are important - but probably not … [Read more...]
This weeks speaker: Jean Drage
Jean is going to share some thoughts on the recent elections. You may have seen her articles in Stuff recently (links below). Since moving to Christchurch more than a decade ago, Jean Drage has worked for both Canterbury and Lincoln Universities and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority. … [Read more...]
Is The People’s Choice Labour by any other name?
Christchurch 2021 (the Precursor of The People's Choice) Isn't the internet a marvel, a website still exists for Christchurch 2021 which was formed in 1995. I have spoken to people who were members of Christchurch 2021 and they say that it was formed deliberately to get the best progressive … [Read more...]
Do we Really Support Democratic Representation?
Are we truly committed to democratic representation around the Council table? Many seem to want more of ‘their’ people around that table. Is this the same as representation? Concerns about water quality and the environment were obvious in ECan voting in this election, mostly in … [Read more...]