Tonight 2021 Mayoral candidate, Megan Woods condemned Christchurch City
Council¹s decision to proceed with deciding the new site for the proposed
civic offices, and in particular Bob Parker¹s broken election promise. She
and her 2021 team are taking action to ensure that those voters who have yet
to return their papers are able to do so.

Woods said she had been flooded with emails and phone call all day from
voters irate that once again City Council was ignoring their views. ³Many
people have been motivated to vote by this action and 2021 and I plan to
make sure they can. People have until midday on Saturday 13th to lodge their
votes with the returning officer in Tuam Street. If you are unable to get
into either a service centre or Tuam St to drop off your papers, my 2021
team will arrange transport to ensure that every vote is counted. Just ring
980 5949 or txt: 021 0596047².

Woods reminded voters that "this is not the way it needs to be. If you were
holding out for a reason to vote here it is. I urge those who have not yet
voted to send a clear message - that this is not the style of local
government that they are prepared to tolerate. A vote for me and for my team
is a vote for people who are committed to delivering a far more honest,
accountable, open and transparent Christchurch City Council. They can ignore
your opinions but they cannot ignore your votes. ".

"The proposed new building is a contentious election issue that my team and
I, along with other candidates, have issued a clear alternative position for
voters to consider in this election. This election is finally offering the
citizens of Christchurch an opportunity to have their say on the building,
its location and its price tag. It is outrageous to deny them this
opportunity. This is what this decision does", said Megan Woods.

"No one knew this was coming as they cast their votes over the last days.
This item was introduced by stealth. There was nothing open or transparent
in this decision. That it was an eleventh-hour additional item debated in a
public excluded session encapsulates everything that has led to plummeting
levels in public satisfaction with this council and its decision making. It
was a hurried decision that failed to follow proper process. Councillors did
not have adequate opportunity to digest and analyse the information on what
is a huge decision for the city. And, once again it was a secretive and
behind closed-doors decision that the public were denied access to.
Councillors did not receive the staff report until they went into their
public excluded session and then had around 15 minutes to digest the complex
information along with their lunch.".

"Throughout this campaign, I, and my team, have campaigned for more open and
transparent decision making. We know that this is what the public want. I
believe that this starts with my campaign. From day one I have been upfront
with you. You know what I want to do. You know who is backing my campaign."

Furthermore, Woods pointed to Bob Parker¹s broken election promise. ³This
must be a world-record², said Woods, ³the voting has not even closed and Bob
Parker is going back on what he has said he will do². On 18th September, at
The Press Mayoral debate (as reported on the 19th October 2007
http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4206947a24175.html), Bob Parker clearly
stated that he was prepared to move a motion to defer any decision on the
building until after the election. Bob Parker did not move such a motion and
voted in favour of the proposal.

ends

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