Candidates to represent Riccarton-Wigram Ward for Council

Two Councillors to be elected.

• Helen BROUGHTON (Independent Citizens)
• Ishwar GANDA (Labour for Christchurch 2021)
• Aaron KEOWN (Independent)
• Mike MORA (Labour for Christchurch 2021)
• Bob SHEARING (Independent Citizens)

Helen BROUGHTON (Independent Citizens)

A first term Councillor, Helen fights for better urban and traffic planning in a ward under pressure from development. She works for a quality residential lifestyle and protection of the natural environment of the Port Hills.

A forceful advocate of her community’s views at Council, Helen fought to retain rubbish bags, kept brothels out of suburbs and argued for residents to have a vote on amalgamation.

Helen demands greater financial rigour to restrain rate rises, arguing against risky investment of Council funds.

A trustee of Riccarton House and Bush, Helen is serious about preserving our heritage, yet cares strongly about people. A Human Resource Manager she assists long term unemployed into permanent work and is a trained teacher and counsellor; MA (Hons) English, University of Canterbury.

Community Board member for eight years and resident for thirty, her two children growing up here; Helen is totally committed to our community.

Ishwar GANDA (Labour for Christchurch 2021)

I’ve enjoyed being a City Councillor for Wigram and now seek your support to represent the larger Riccarton-Wigram Ward. I’m familiar with the needs of the whole area because of my service on the Community Board. I have supported the purchase of a site for a new Halswell library and the partnership with Riccarton High School for a new library at Upper Riccarton. I was pleased to work with the Community Board to develop youth activities and after-school programmes in Hei Hei and elsewhere. I’ve worked as a member of the Riccarton Bush Trust to protect the bush and the birdlife with anti-predator fencing and a sprinkler system. I chair the Metropolitan Funding Committee and serve as a Director of Redbus Ltd. As a councillor I am committed to the retention of our city’s assets and to keeping rate increases to a minimum.

ishwar.ganda@ccc.govt.nz

Aaron KEOWN (Independent)

A zero percent rates rise is what I stand by. We can do this without cutting any services, in fact I believe we can even increase some. Our city has billions in assets and collects millions every year. With careful common sense management we can have all the services we need and want without increasing rates. I have a strong plan to increase the traffic flow considerably on all main routes throughout Christchurch. I want to make buses FREE for all students, children and elderly. I also want to make our public pools FREE for all students, children and elderly. Sport is important to our city so I want to implement FREE angle parking around Hagley Park. Plus lets get back to FREE parking at the hospital. My policies are many and varied so please take a close look at www.aaronformayor.co.nz, thanks for reading.

Mike MORA (Labour for Christchurch 2021)

Having served twelve years as a member of the Riccarton-Wigram Community Board, I have the experience and proven track record to offer myself as a Councillor. I wish to use my voice at the council table to support a number of projects that I know will be beneficial for the community. In particular, I want to see the Council take decisive action to deal with traffic congestion. I will work for the early completion of the Blenheim Road deviation at Deans Avenue, the construction of a heavy traffic by-pass at Pound Road and the development of the Southern Arterial. Of equal importance is developing more frequent bus services to take people where they want to go. I am committed to protecting our heritage and environment, being active in preserving Riccarton Bush and the historic teahouse at Riccarton Racecourse.

mike.mora@paradise.net.nz (Phone 980 9438)

Bob SHEARING (Independent Citizens)

Bob Shearing is currently a Wigram Ward member for the Riccarton/Wigram Community Board and Chairman of the Board's Transport and Roading Committee, working with residents and groups to improve roading issues in their neighbourhoods. Bob is also involved with Hornby Rotary, Rose Historic Chapel Trust, Citizens Advice Bureaux, Templeton Hospital Welfare Council, Church of the Holy Trinity Family Trust and a number of other organisations in the Hornby area, where he has lived and worked for over 30 years. As Managing Director of RA Shearing Contractors Ltd, a local earthmoving and paving contracting company, Bob has a proven record of being practical about issues but has the experience to know how any decision made will impact on affected people. Bob has enjoyed the opportunity to assist and promote the local community for the past nine years and looks forward to continuing this involvement. For further information, please ring 3485420 anytime.