For immediate release

5 July 2013

Dalziel reacts to Bob Parker’s decision to pull out of Mayoralty race

Christchurch mayoralty candidate Lianne Dalziel said she felt sad when she saw the news that current Mayor of Christchurch Bob Parker would not see re-election as Mayor in October’s election.

“Like many New Zealanders I watched the Mayor speaking on Campbell Live and I felt sad,” said Dalziel. “He has worked hard for the city and like so many people in Christchurch he looked exhausted.

“I don’t think anyone else could have performed the way Bob did in response to the earthquakes. He was the reassuring voice people needed to hear and he was Christchurch’s face to the rest of New Zealand and to the world. No one can ever take that away from him.

“Bob has also been an incredible ambassador for Christchurch.”

Following the Council’s loss of its building consent authority accreditation and the announcement that Chief Executive Tony Marryatt was taking leave, the question of how the Council could continue to move forward remained. The Mayor’s announcement today that he would not seek re-election was a positive reflection of his desire to see the city move on.

“Bob has taken some accountability for the consents issue and that is admirable,” said Dalziel.

“There is a need for a positive culture change at the Council and this looks like the beginning of that process. We need a united team around the Council table and a new set of capabilities to guide the city through its recovery. The council as an organisation needs to free itself from ‘business as usual’ to reflect the unique times we are in, so we can capture all the opportunities available to us to build the newest city in the world.”

ENDS

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