Christchurch suffers from blurred red tape boundaries

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Fri, 03 Feb 2012 7:59a.m.

Christchurch East MP and Labour's earthquake recovery spokesperson Lianne Dalziel

Christchurch East MP and Labour's earthquake recovery spokesperson Lianne Dalziel

The calls are continuing for the removal of Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker and his chief executive Tony Marryatt.

Around 3000 protestors gathered outside the council building on Wednesday, calling for the pair to step down and to bring the local body election forward to either April or May.

Anger from residents was mixed; some were disappointed by the council’s response following the February 2011 earthquake, while others wondered what else went on behind closed doors following Marryatt’s extravagant pay rise.

But the Labour Party's earthquake recovery spokesperson Lianne Dalziel says a mid-term election would not fix the council's problems.

Ms Dalziel is also the Christchurch East MP, and joined Firstline this morning.

She says the strain of the disaster recovery following the earthquakes have highlighted a long-standing issue of council division.

She believes Marryatt should still be the chief executive, saying the majority of the council chose to roll over his contract. However, she does not think he is the right person to lead the earthquake recovery plan, and believes that is a separate role entirely.

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Comments

04 Feb 2012 09:50p.m.

Helen wrote:

I am proud of the protesters as they took the effort to show up at a mid week protest in a part of the city that was hard to get to, with little parking ... the fact that the numbers were as large as they were, speaks volumes. I also believe that the protest is indicative of the real anger in parts of the city that have been forgotten about by the CCC, EQC and more particularly CERA. After almost a year, people are no closer to being able to move on - insurers haven't paid out, CERA haven't made land decisions, the CCC haven't released the new building regulations, EQC haven't paid out. All agencies seem to be attempting to put a lot of spin on how well the 'rebuild' is going, but in truth, very little is happening in ChCh as there is no insurance. Worst of all, there are large numbers of residents still forced to live away from their homes (whilst paying mortgages), others living in terrible conditons - meanwhile, all the agencies appear to be concentrating on rebuilding the CBD. People had patience early on, but their frustration is mounting. For the others around NZ, those homes hanging over cliffs (on land that so obviously won't be built on again) is still zoned white and CERA keep saying "its compex". Read that as "gee, those homes are expensive and we can't afford to turn them red". I see more protests coming as people are suffering here.

03 Feb 2012 02:01p.m.

Get real Lianne... wrote:

I am amazed at Lianne Dalziel she is so closely aligned to the Eastern Suburbs, she knows so well how desperately bad things are for people in that electorate. To even suggest for one moment that the council should spend even more money to appoint another senior manager to do the job because Marraytt is unable to do it competently is completely nuts - just get rid of Marryatt and replace him with someone who can do the job. Will he take a personal grievance? Probably, but I believe that his error and misdeeds would be a strong case for mismanagement leading to termination.

03 Feb 2012 01:41p.m.

LBV wrote:

Glad to be living under the Palmerston North District Council. OUr chief executive declined the offered pay rise saying that it was unfair when so many people are struggling. I do however question the councils of NZ decision to have employees that have such high wages - especially when this is paid for out os peoples rates. The majority of those who pay rates earn well under the offered payrise, let alone the full wage these people get.

03 Feb 2012 10:15a.m.

Dan wrote:

The people have spoken. The counil has no right to continue with these 2 heading the city as Mayor and Top Council man. What makes Tony Marryatt so special that he deserves an increase in salary whilst everyone in city is suffering.

Shame on them both.