28 Sep 2012

Council plans protest letter to Govt over election delay

10:36 am on 28 September 2012

The Christchurch City Council is to write to Local Government Minister David Carter protesting the decision to postpone elections for the Canterbury regional council.

Earlier in September, legislation was enacted to extend the appointment of commissioners to run the council until 2016.

At a meeting on Thursday, the city council voted overwhelmingly to express its opposition to the move and to seek a meeting with Mr Carter to ask why the elections have been posponed.

The council's concerns will also be conveyed to Local Government New Zealand.

Christchurch City Councillor Glenn Livingstone says there are strong feelings in Christchurch over the issue.

Mr Livingstone says that has been galvanised by the debacle over the restructuring of Christchurch's schools, as well the Government's plans for the city which have been imposed on residents.