Gary Moore to stand down as Chch Mayor
September 28th, 2006 at 2:04 pm by David FarrarChristchurch Mayor Gary Moore has announced he will not seek a fourth term as Mayor. It seems the announcement was very emotional and it is not clear how much the decision is of his own free will and how much it is a fear of losing.
Moore from my viewpoint, seems to have been a pretty good Mayor. You want a Mayor with energy and presence which he has. And while he is Labour, he has worked with people from all parties pretty well.
I suspect this will see Tim Barnett stand as Mayor. It has been a real mystery to me why Barnett, whom I regard as one of the most politically astute Labour MPs, has never made Cabinet despite being in his 4th term. I presume it is Helen being overly sensitive to having too many openly gay MPs in Cabinet because how else do you justify Clayton Cosgrove, Judith Tizard, Dover Samuels and Harry Duynhoven as Ministers ahead of Barnett.
So if Tim becomes Mayor, wil this see Tony Milne seek the candidacy for Christchurch Central for any by-election?
Related posts:
- Gary Moore on Telecom
- Burke for Chch Mayor?
- Barnett not contesting Christchurch Mayoralty
- Lord Mayor Bob Harvey
September 28th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
I thought Cosgrove was gay himself… or am I mistaken? If so, I can’t see that as the reason.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Isn’t Cosgrove gay himself? If so, I can’t see that as the reason.
Far more likely the competing factions wanted their quota of ministers and Barnett was the loser.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
A Mayor with energy and presence is usually accompanied by a desire to shape a city in his/her own image, which equals glory projects and higher rates.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
Blimey – Tony will be spoilt for choice – Rakaia by-election or Christchurch Central? I know which one he has a better chance of winning…
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 3:37 pm
I suspect Tony will have a problem getting the selection. I feel a right wing buso type coming on or another lawyer. More likely Barnett will do both jobs until the General Election because H will want to avoid a by-election.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
I’m a little vague here – you can do both jobs? Apart from the obvious conflict of interest, is there no law which requires MPs to only hold one elective position?
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
“I thought Cosgrove was gay himself… or am I mistaken? If so, I can’t see that as the reason.”
You’re getting him confused with Çhris Carter (Minister of Conservation) who is openly gay. Clayton Cosgrove is actually a social conservative. He voted against all three readings of the Civil Unions Bill.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
“I thought Cosgrove was gay himself… or am I mistaken? If so, I can’t see that as the reason.”
You’re getting him confused with Çhris Carter (Minister of Conservation) who is openly gay. Clayton Cosgrove is actually a social conservative. He voted against all three readings of the Civil Unions Bill.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
kyotolaw:
As far as I can tell, it is perfectly legal for a person to do both. The Electoral Act says that an MP who becomes a public servant vacates their seat, but I would guess that a mayoralty isn’t a public service role, because it’s not an appointed position under the Crown. There is also a section about being elected to Governmental assemblies, but that specifically applies only to overseas countries, or groups of countries (like the EU) of which NZ isn’t a member.
As you say, though, there is the little issue of conflict of interest; and if I were him, I would as mayor-elect resign from Parliament, even if just to stop people getting the wrong idea.
I guess, if it ever looked like causing a problem, the Electoral Act would be amended.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
The most obvious candidate for major is actually Bob Parker, he was major of Banks Peninsula before its amalgamation with Christchurch city. Bob is now a Christchurch city councilor.
Whoever stands it will be a far more interesting election than last time. Gary Moore was basically elected unopposed.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
Frank Kitts was Labour Mayor of Wellinton and also MP for Wellington Central at the same time during the 60s.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Maybe if Tim becomes Mayor he can clear Manchester street of the prostitutes his law have allowed to turn inner city Christchurch into an open air brothel.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 5:25 pm
Most likely South Island factional quotas all used up. So you would have to have a SI left wing ( male)cabinet minister stand down
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 5:43 pm
This is a great loss to Chch nothwithstanding recent fiscal slippage leading to higher than usual rate increases. Whilst I am no longer a Labour supporter, I have all the time in the world for Garry Moore (and his lovely wife Pam). He had energy and vision and he worked hard to find bi-partisan solutions in many fields. He loves his city and worked hard to make it a better place. I believe he could’ve won a 4th term and beaten Bob Parker in a straight 2 way race but I think the whole 2021 thing has past its used by date and he faced running as an Independent and then probably running against a bona fide Labour candidate such as Barnett. This would split the centre-left vote allowing Bob Parker an easy ride home. Whilst most sitting counsellors are Independent, Barnett would command the money and workers of Labour’s Canterbury machine and that would be hard for an Independent from the centre-left (which is Moore’s philosophical home)to beat. Political practicality won the day it would seem.
Oh and as Clayton Cosgrove is a personal friend who I’ve known well for 17 years, I can categorically scotch any musings by Blair that Clayton is gay. He is a practising Catholic, a St Bedes old boy (Gerry Brownlee was ironically one of his teachers) and he votes in social conscience issues as any socially conservative Catholic would. He is unashamedly heterosexual.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 6:15 pm
the next mayor of christchurch will be Bob Parker,
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
the next mayor of christchurch will be Bob Parker,
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
At least one current MP is concurrently a councillor – Nicky Wagner for National is on Chch regional
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
“Moore from my viewpoint, seems to have been a pretty good Mayor. You want a Mayor with energy and presence which he has. And while he is Labour, he has worked with people from all parties pretty well.”
So David, you wouldn’t mind Labour being in power as long as it worked with people from all parties pretty well? Even if it sucked beyond belief?
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
A pity Moore is standing down as this leaves the way open for Barnett, whose lowly status in Parliament will be mirrored in a poor performance as mayor. To be fair I have a low opinion in general of Labour’s involvement in local body politics. Barnett is on record as being in favour of re-increasing the number of councillors, a move that would blatantly favour Labour in the polls and enable them to dominate the CCC again as they did before the last local body elections. He also employs as his electorate secretary the unimpressive Ingrid Stonhill, one of a number of former Labour councillors dumped last time around.
Fortunately it seems likely that Bob Parker will stand as well, and I think he has a far better record both in his past career in the media and more recently as Mayor of Banks Peninsula – hopefully he will stand as an independent and thus garner a wide range of support across the political spectrum.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 8:22 pm
“Moore from my viewpoint, seems to have been a pretty good Mayor.”
Personally I think he has been a terrible one. Under his “leadership” ratepayers have seen increasing and totally unjust rates rises but with diminishing services. The once beautiful square has been turned into a Stalinist nightmare. His attempts to renew the inner city amount to nothing more than making it as inaccessible as possible. He has arrogantly claimed the right to determine which democratically elected Kiwi politicians are welcome here. And he travels the globe apologising for Japanese imperial war crimes in the guise of “peace”. His last act was to close down a local childrens pool so he could build a massively expensive monument to the egos of local body politicians.
Good riddens to him.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 10:13 pm
Maybe he will go back to playing with Thin Lizzy again
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
The square is quite acceptable in its current form, especially since they got rid of the stupid cobblestone roads.
The closure of Edgeware Pool is simple economics, just as the Centennial Pool was closed and replaced by a modern facility back in the 90s.
The outcry over Edgeware is out of all proportion to the size of the community. It is all being whipped up by Moore’s opponents in the 2021 coalition / Labour party particularly the unimpressive Barnett and Stonhill, the failed councillor who presided over the hundreds of thousands of dollars of ratepayer funds gone down the gurgler in a failed bid to put the privately run Gardenz show out of business.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
Jim Hopkins is going to be the next mayor of Christchurch. I will put money on it! Oops, betting’s illegal, right David?
Vote:September 29th, 2006 at 6:45 am
If Barnett gets elected I am sure he will be able to double dip until the general election. There may be other Labour MPs doing the same. But I am not sure whether Tony will get the nomination. I hope he does for personal and political reasons. Politicall y it suits me if the Labour Party is made up of gay men and women ex Union Officials. Even though the gay men seem to be quite competant individuals.
Vote:September 29th, 2006 at 7:35 am
Yes if the gay pom Barnett is elected – can we the struggling rate payers expect all future council meeting s to be held in the good old “green room ” sauna ??? lol hello Peter D fancy seeing you here -lol ….ooops…. Tim Bum has done a real fine job making it a safer place for the towns whores … how many got murdered last year ??? You only got to go down Manachester St to witness a tragic sitaution for so many youth.The age of these children is insulting but who cares in this cess -pit – garden city – yeah right – Forget the bloody mayor what about some morals??
Vote:September 29th, 2006 at 9:53 am
TIC,
Simple economics? Closing down a childrens pool so they can build a massively expensive council building? Riiiight.
Also, I live in the area, and yuur claim that its being “whipped up” is crap. The majority of people here are generally outraged and have a right to be. Just drive around and have a look at all the protest signs.
You and the other 4 Moore supporters still left as well as Moore himself demonstrate utter arrogance bordering on fascism. Thats why the people of Christchurch have turned against him.
Mooore is clearly to stupid to understand a basic job description. The role of Mayor is to maintain our infrastructure and community facilities, make sure the rubbish is collected, and smile for visitors. Thats it.
It does not entail repeatedly ignoring his employers own wishes, using them as a bottomless source of revenue while cutting services, and arrogantly pushing his own egotistical building projects.
Vote:September 29th, 2006 at 10:02 am
We need a mayor with no ties to the fascist Labourite cult at all. Anyone surprised at Moore’s behaviour recently only has to look at the same behaviour in Clark and other Labourite ministers, includiong Barnett. The whole party is drunk on power and displaying a level of arrogance that makes the Muldoon years look benign by comparison. And it seems to attract those who think the purpose of government is to steal as much money as possible and put the jackboot into anyone who disagrees with them.
Vote:September 29th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
I don’t live in Christchurch and was last there in 1998.
Vote:But its central city streets were strikingly full of prostitutes then, nothing to do with Tim’s Bill.
September 29th, 2006 at 8:22 pm
Manchester has always had prostitutes. Long before Tim Barnett. Gary Moore has been a pretty damn terrible mayor. How many good mayors manage to turn old ladies in wheelchairs onto the streets protesting his decisions? (Library closures) How many managed to destroy their own in-council supporters? (Demise of 2021). He’s annoyed everyone from the goths and anarchists in Hack to the elderly in Spreydon.
Vote:September 30th, 2006 at 11:09 am
There is massive structural support for Bob Parker as new Mayor.
Vote:Parker will eventually obliterate the meaningless regional regional copuncil ECAN while stupid old Burke argues about who owns the Waitaki river.
We will get a rabbit proof fence across the peninsular, and watch for plans for a new four lane highway across the sea front from Sumner to north of Woodend,
Watch also for major changes in upper level management,
pq knows things
September 30th, 2006 at 11:28 am
Christchurch City Council will see massive structural changes with Parker as Mayor.
1. There will be a shift to a business model
2. Wimp staff,living in the seventies, like the Corporate Manager stds will have to look for new jobs
2. Amalgamations of councils will occur,
3. Rabbit prooof fence across peninsular
4. Highway, four lanes from Sumner across the sea board to woodend,
Vote:March 12th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I would have loved to see Jamie Gough run for mayor. Lovely young man that is highly astute. No doubt his time will come. I would be torn on who to vote for out of Bob Parker or Jamie Gough, I hope Jamie at least runs for council. After his efforts in the last mayoral elections he would have to cruise in there to council quite easily. Think Bob will probably win the Chch mayoral race this year.
Vote:March 12th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
I would have loved to see Jamie Gough run for mayor. Lovely young man that is highly astute. No doubt his time will come. I would be torn on who to vote for out of Bob Parker or Jamie Gough, I hope Jamie at least runs for council. After his efforts in the last mayoral elections he would have to cruise in there to council quite easily. Think Bob will probably win the Chch mayoral race this year.
Vote:March 23rd, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Yes Bob Parker may look good, speak well and know how to front the audience and compared to the current Mayor, be 100% nicer guy. But what does he actually stand for! A staff member at the Civic office I know believes he’s has no appreciation for the real issues and little ability when it comes to analysis of complex matters.
Vote:March 23rd, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Yes Bob Parker may look good, speak well and know how to front the audience and compared to the current Mayor, be 100% nicer guy. But what does he actually stand for! A staff member at the Civic office I know believes he’s has no appreciation for the real issues and little ability when it comes to analysis of complex matters.
Vote: