The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch, New Zealand. The council is elected for three-year terms; at each election voters elect a mayor, city councillors and community board members. There are current 15 city councillors and 37 community board members across 6 community boards.
The mayor, Phil Mauger, is an independent (he ran with the slogan "Let's Get Stuff Done" on the ballot); he has generally been categorised as centre-right. On the left, three city councillors affiliate exclusively to The People's Choice, one exclusively to the New Zealand Labour Party, and two to both groups. On the right, two city councillors affiliate to Independent Citizens. Eight city councillors (of various political leanings) are independents with no stated affiliations.
2025–2028 (current) term
Council The composition of the council for the 2025–2028 term is: }
2022–2025
Council The composition of the council for the 2022–2025 term is: { class="wikitable" border="1" - ! colspan="6" Christchurch City Council - ! Position ! Ward !Photo ! Name ! colspan="2" Ticket - Mayor At large
class="nowrap" Phil Mauger bgcolor="" Let's Get Stuff Done - Deputy mayor Innes
class="nowrap" Pauline Cotter bgcolor="" The People's Choice - Councillor Banks Peninsula
class="nowrap" Tyrone Fields bgcolor="" The People's Choice - Councillor Burwood
class="nowrap" Kelly Barber bgcolor="" Independent for Burwood - Councillor Cashmere
class="nowrap" Tim Scandrett bgcolor="" Truly Independent - Councillor Central
class="nowrap" Jake McLellan bgcolor="" Labour - Councillor Coastal
class="nowrap" Celeste Donovan bgcolor="" Independent – Let's Make Waves - Councillor Fendalton
class="nowrap" James Gough bgcolor="" Independent Citizens - Councillor Halswell
class="nowrap" Andrei Moore bgcolor="" Independent - Councillor Harewood
class="nowrap" Aaron Keown bgcolor="" Independent Voice of Harewood - Councillor Heathcote
class="nowrap" Sara Templeton bgcolor="" Strong Community: Sustainable Future - Councillor Hornby
class="nowrap" Mark Peters bgcolor="" Independent for Hornby - rowspan="2" Councillor rowspan="2" Linwood rowspan="2" rowspan="2" class="nowrap" Yani Johanson bgcolor="" rowspan="2" The People's Choice – Labour - bgcolor="" - Councillor Papanui
class="nowrap" Victoria Henstock bgcolor="" Your Local Independent Community Voice - Councillor Riccarton
class="nowrap" Tyla Harrison-Hunt bgcolor="" The People's Choice - rowspan="2" Councillor rowspan="2" Spreydon rowspan="2" rowspan="2" class="nowrap" Melanie Coker bgcolor="" rowspan="2" The People's Choice – Labour - bgcolor="" - Councillor Waimairi
class="nowrap" Sam MacDonald bgcolor="" Independent Citizens }
Community Boards
Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Board member Jillian Frater was elected at a by-election in 2024. Reuben Davidson resigned to stand as the Labour candidate for Christchurch East in the 2023 general election, which he won. Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board Position Subdivision Name Affiliation (if any) Chairperson Wairewa Lyn Leslie Independent Member Lyttelton Cathy Lum-Webb The People's Choice Member Mount Herbert Howard Needham Independent Member Mount Herbert Luana Swindells The People's Choice Member Akaroa Nigel Harrison Independent Member Akaroa Asif Hussain Independent Member Lyttelton Jillian Frater The People's Choice Former Members Member Lyttelton Reuben Davidson The People's Choice
Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community BoardPositionWardMemberAffiliation (if any)ChairpersonLinwoodPaul McMahonThe People's Choice – LabourDeputy ChairpersonLinwoodJackie SimonsThe People's Choice – LabourMemberBurwoodGreg MitchellIndependentMemberBurwoodTim BakerLabourMemberCoastalJo ZervosIndependentMemberCoastalAlex HewisonThe People's Choice – Labour
Waimāero Fendalton–Waimairi–Harewood Board member Shirish Paranjape resigned from the board 1 July 2025; the vacancy will not be filled until the 2025 election. Waimāero Fendalton–Waimairi–Harewood Community Board Position Ward Member Affiliation (if any) Chairperson Harewood Jason Middlemiss Independent Citizens Deputy Chairperson Fendalton Bridget Williams Independent Citizens Member Harewood Linda Chen Independent Citizens Member Waimairi Nicola McCormick Avonhead Community Group Member Waimairi Shirish Paranjape Independent Citizens Member Fendalton David Cartwright Independent Citizens
Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Helen Broughton was chairperson from the 2022 election until 9 May 2024. She reigned amid controversy over her leadership and the state of "dysfunction" on the board. Her initial resignation was rejected, as she included the stipulation that she remain board representative for issues relating to planning. She later resigned again, that time with no stipulations (which was accepted). She remained a member of the community board, serving as deputy chairperson. Marie Pollisco took over from Broughton. Polilisco was previously deputy chairperson. She has been the subject of concerns around a possible conflict of interest, as she also works for the city council's planning department.
Henk Buunk was formerly affiliated to The People's Choice, but resigned the affiliation to vote against the appointment of Pollisco as chair.
Gamal Fouda, the Imam of Al Noor Mosque, was a board member from the 2022 election until 31 March 2025. He moved to Australia in early 2025 and thus resigned from the board. Luke Chandler was appointed to the vacancy. Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board Position Ward Member Affiliation (if any) Chairperson HalswellMarie Pollisco The People's Choice Deputy Chairperson RiccartonHelen Broughton Independent Citizens Member 2022 HornbySarah Brunton Independent Member HornbyHenk Buunk Independent Member HalswellDebbie Mora Independent Member RiccartonLuke Chandler Independent Citizens Former Members Member RiccartonGamal Fouda The People's Choice
Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Ali Jones was elected at a by-election in 2023. Shreejana Chhetri resigned within one month of the election, triggering a by-election. Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board Position Ward Member Affiliation (if any) Chairperson Papanui Emma Norrish Independent Deputy Chairperson Papanui Simon Britten Think Papanui Member Innes Emma Twaddell Independent Member Central Sunita Gautam Labour Member Central John Miller Labour Member Innes Ali Jones Independent Former Members Member Innes Shreejana Chhetri The People's Choice
Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community BoardPositionWardMemberAffiliation (if any)ChairpersonSpreydonCallum WardThe People's Choice – LabourDeputy ChairpersonCashmereKeir LeslieThe People's Choice – LabourMemberSpreydonRoy KenneallyThe People's Choice – LabourMemberCashmereLee SampsonThe People's Choice – LabourMemberHeathcoteWill HallIndependent Voice For HeathcoteMemberHeathcoteTim LindleyFor Communities You'll Love To Live In
2019–2022 Council The composition of the council for the 2019–2022 term was: Position Name Ticket Ward Mayor Lianne Dalziel Best for Christchurch At large Deputy mayor Andrew Turner The People's Choice Banks Peninsula Councillor Phil Mauger Independent Burwood Councillor Tim Scandrett Independent Cashmere Councillor Jake McLellan Labour Central Councillor James Daniels(until June 2021) Your Vote – Your Voice Independent Coastal Councillor Celeste Donovan(from October 2021) Independent Councillor James Gough Independent Citizens Fendalton Councillor Anne Galloway The People's Choice Halswell Councillor Aaron Keown Independent Harewood Councillor Sara Templeton Strong Community: Healthy Environment Heathcote Councillor Jimmy Chen The People's Choice – Labour Hornby Councillor Pauline Cotter The People's Choice Innes Councillor Yani Johanson The People's Choice – Labour Linwood Councillor Mike Davidson Independent Papanui Councillor Catherine Chu Independent Citizens Riccarton Councillor Melanie Coker The People's Choice – Labour Spreydon Councillor Sam MacDonald Independent Citizens Waimairi
2016–2019 Council 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 currently 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.
Position Name Ticket Ward Mayor Lianne Dalziel Best for Christchurch At large Deputy mayor Andrew Turner The People's Choice Banks Peninsula Councillor Glenn Livingstone The People's Choice – Labour Burwood Councillor Tim Scandrett Independent Cashmere Councillor Deon Swiggs Independent – Let's Get It Done Central Councillor David East Independent Coastal Councillor Jamie Gough Independent Citizens Fendalton Councillor Anne Galloway The People's Choice Halswell Councillor Aaron Keown True Independent Harewood Councillor Sara Templeton Strong Communities for a Stronger Christchurch Heathcote Councillor Jimmy Chen The People's Choice – Labour Hornby Councillor Pauline Cotter The People's Choice Innes Councillor Yani Johnson The People's Choice – Labour Linwood Councillor Mike Davidson The Right Choice for Papanui & Christchurch Papanui Councillor Vicki Buck Riccarton Councillor Phil Clearwater The People's Choice – Labour Spreydon Councillor Raf Manji Independent Waimairi
2013–2016 Council Five of the thirteen councillors did not stand for re-election in 2013. 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. For the 2013–2016 term, the composition of the council is as follows:
Position Name Ticket Ward Mayor Lianne Dalziel One City Together At large Deputy mayor Vicki Buck A Vote for me is a Vote for You Riccarton–Wigram Councillor Jimmy Chen The People's Choice – Labour Councillor Andrew Turner The People's Choice Banks Peninsula Councillor David East Independent Burwood–Pegasus Councillor Glenn Livingstone The People's Choice – Labour Councillor Jamie Gough Independent Citizens Fendalton–Waimairi Councillor Raf Manji Independent Councillor Yani Johanson The People's Choice – Labour Hagley–Ferrymead Councillor Paul Lonsdale Independent Councillor Ali Jones Independent Shirley–Papanui Councillor Pauline Cotter The People's Choice – Labour Councillor Phil Clearwater The People's Choice – Labour Spreydon–Heathcote Councillor Tim Scandrett Independent
2010–2013 Council 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. During the term, the government appointed an overseer to council (Kerry Marshall) and "came within an ace of sacking the council completely." 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.