Young Mayoral Candidate Has Long History In Local Government

Today Dr Megan Woods is delighted to be selected as the mayoral candidate for the ŒChristchurch 2021¹ organisation. Woods is a Business Manager at Crop & Food Research, an elected member of the Spreydon Heathcote Community Board, and has a PhD in history. If successful in the October elections, she would, like Vicky Buck in 1989, become mayor of New Zealand¹s second largest city at the age of 33.

Voters should not mistake youth for inexperience, however. Megan¹s involvement in local government goes back to 1984. The front page of the Christchurch Press (Oct 26, 1984) showed Megan, age 10, accepting an award for naming the Heathcote County Council¹s mascot for energy saving, ŒPhil Filament¹.

The award was presented by Oscar Alpers, then chairman of the Heathcote County Council. In a twist of fate, today Woods and Alpers are colleagues, serving together on the Spreydon Heathcote Community Board. The board meets at the South Service Centre, built on the site at which she received the award.

Following the selection meeting, Alpers said ³I am delighted Megan has been chosen as our mayoral candidate. She has all the attributes required at this time. Who in 1984 would have recognised that intelligent and capable girl as a future civic leader?²

³I am proud to represent Christchurch 2021.² said Woods. ³Starting tomorrow, we will begin selecting a full team to represent the city at Council and Community Board level. I look forward to leading that team into an exciting and issues-based campaign.²

³The key issues for the next council will be involving residents meaningfully in decisions affecting their city, ensuring that they receive value for their rates dollars, and building a city which we are all proud to call home.²

Woods was born and raised in Christchurch and educated at Cathedral College and the University of Canterbury. She lives in Spreydon with her partner of 10 years and her step-daughter.

ENDS

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