Chch protesters want mayor sacked

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Wed, 01 Feb 2012 5:59a.m.

Tony Marryatt is not an elected official

Tony Marryatt is not an elected official

Christchurch residents will take to the streets on Wednesday to call for an early City Council election, in the wake of a pay row involving its chief executive Tony Marryatt.

The protest rally, demanding a mid-term election in April or May, will take place at midday, next door to the city council on Hereford Street.

On the No Pay Rise for Tony Marryatt Facebook page, protesters are also calling for Mr Marryatt and mayor Bob Parker to be sacked.

Tony Marryatt and the $68,000 pay rise 

Those who attend the rally are being urged to protest peacefully.

Protest organiser Peter Lynch is expecting a good turn out from many supporters around the city.

He says the council is dysfunctional and it is not providing proper representation for the people of Christchurch.

Mr Marryatt had received a 14.4 per cent pay rise, which took his salary to $538,529, from July last year.

On Friday, Mr Marryatt said he had rejected the rise and would pay back the money he had already received, if the councillors were "true" to a commitment to work together collegially.

Local government elections are next scheduled for October 2013.

Mr Marryatt is not an elected official.

NZN

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Comments

02 Feb 2012 10:32a.m.

docjim wrote:

People are not stupid as some in the Government sector would believe. Progress has stalled, many residents have uncertain futures, some still living in unsatisfactory conditions and Mr. Marryatt is awarded a 5 digit pay rise. If he resigns or is even sacked, he will most likely get a 6 or 7 digit bonus and that is what has soured Christchurch residents. A new election won't solve the problem, however; the open protests by the residents will show that if the elected officials want to keep their jobs, they will need to spend taxpayers money much more wisely and with the taxpayers interests in mind...

02 Feb 2012 09:46a.m.

to Aiden wrote:

I think you are very wrong about that Aiden, around 4,000 people in this city care very much and to my knowledge there is no influenece from Labour or National or the Greens/Maori parties, it is a citizens of Christchurch protest at the greed and incompetence of the city council..

02 Feb 2012 09:41a.m.

RAS wrote:

Oh we wish, Rob Fyfe would be magnificent but he is destined for far greater things!

01 Feb 2012 04:53p.m.

Marion wrote:

Do protesters really believe if an early election was called, that council members who are working under difficult demanding circumstances, would keep their focus on the job at hand for which they were elected? I think not. I have compassion for Chch rate-paying citizens living in broken homes on broken land (as I am, living near AMI Stadium). However, perhaps it's time for them to put their focus on constructively helping others who are in even worse circumstances, rather than having a "pity party" at every opportunity. I'm quite certain there are many people who would appreciate some calm rather than the raging which seems to be happening. Let us come together for the common good and let the people we elected do their jobs, without the constant rabble-rousing which seems to be the events getting attention.

01 Feb 2012 04:24p.m.

Karrie Don wrote:

Mid year elections may indeed return some or most of the current councillors, as no-one wants to throw out the baby with the bathwater...All we want is the opportunity to re-eveluate the team, based on current circumstances, information and abilities. In light of on going aftershocks, some which could be another 6 or 7 with following clusters we have changed (forever) in our needs to get Christchurch into recovery mode.

01 Feb 2012 03:05p.m.

Martin wrote:

I used to work for HCC and the benchmarking for many positions were too low and many positions too high. Tony Marryatt is quite right in regards to his position being paid as per the salary for the assed position. It is rude and in most people respects way too high for what the performance requirements are. He is also not a councillor and his job does not require public speaking. Bob has done a huge amount for the city so after his sacrifices are you just going to throw him out like trash. The councils problems seem to be from being overloaded from the city's issues. Just remember the councillors live in the city with the city's problems, their own jobs and burning the candle at both ends trying to prioritise everything. Who else are you going to elect to do a better job?

01 Feb 2012 12:17p.m.

aiden wrote:

this is being pushed along by labour. most the city don't care

01 Feb 2012 12:16p.m.

Gary wrote:

Do Christchurch a favour and sack them both.

01 Feb 2012 12:03p.m.

Bruce wrote:

We want the CEO gone but now the protest is reaching too high and are going the council. If there were to be an early election it would create a huge disruption to progress in Christchurch. Emotion will not carry the day.Let us see the level of support they get but this is not a well thought out protest action now.

01 Feb 2012 11:36a.m.

ridley wrote:

Good on the Chch protesters for having the guts to speak out against an incompetent money grabbing council. As for T Marryatt he is getting far to much plus expenses, even without the pay rise. Would be interesting to see what he actually does, if anything apart from talking at meetings. He has only reluctantly rejected the rise because of public exposure. How many did Peter Lynch say were on the Council pay role getting inflated salary's plus expenses 68.Thats just ridiculous. Any normal business would not operate in such a manner.Sack sixty of these figureheads put the money into the local children's hospital.That way at least the long suffering rate payers money would be put to good use.