Christchurch mayoral contenders go head to head on rates, asset sales and stadium issues
Christchurch's increasing rates burden, asset sales and the need for a stadium look set to be big issues this election.
Three mayoral contenders went head to head in front of 300 people at a forum hosted by Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce at The Piano on Wednesday.
Incumbent Lianne Dalziel talked about the need to bring rates increases down, while businessman Darryll Park insisted he could make zero rates increases work and John Minto pushed for rate rises to be in line with inflation.
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Poll: What could the Christchurch City Council fund if it didn't have to pay GST on rates?
Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger says GST on rates, currently taken by central government, would be better spent locally.
The comments follow an Infometrics analysis that found over $1.1 billion of rates revenue nationwide was collected by the Government in 2022 as GST.
According to Infometrics, $88.5m of that came from Christchurch city ratepayers. It would be enough to save the Christ Church Cathedral from ruin; restore the Dux de Lux seven times over; cover both the Art Centre and Orana Wildlife Park’s request for regular public funding for over 26 years; contribute to light rail in Greater Christchurch; or get the South Library rebuild completed.
Read the full story by reporter Sinead Gill here and share your thoughts in the comments below. (Note: Subscription required. You can still read two free stories a month if you're not a ThePress.co.nz subscriber).
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19.8% Light rail
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5.6% South Library
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42% Orana Wildlife Park
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11.1% The Arts Centre
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3.1% Dux de Lux
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13% Christ Church Cathedral
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5.6% Something else (share your thoughts in the comments)
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