Elections 2023: All on the line for Ilam candidates (Ilam electorate profile)
In the lead-up to the 2023 general election, The Press is profiling Canterbury’s electoral races. Here’s what you need to know about the five candidates running to be Ilam's MP. (By reporter Sinead Gill)
The hotly contested electorate of Ilam, in the northwest of Ōtautahi/Christchurch, borders Waimakariri and Selwyn and has Christchurch Central to its east.
Before 2020, Ilam (and its forerunner Fendalton) had always been won by a National Party candidate. Its first MP, Sidney Holland, was National’s first prime minister in 1949.
National’s streak ended in 2020 when Gerry Brownlee — who was Ilam’s first and only MP since the electorate was redrawn and renamed in 1996 — lost to Labour’s Sarah Pallett by about 3500 votes.
Pallett is campaigning to keep her seat at the October 14 general election, but a Taxpayers’ Union Curia poll of 400 residents suggests National will comfortably steal it back.
Hamish Campbell - a medical researcher and lecturer with a PhD in cancer and viruses - is National’s new Ilam candidate. He ran for the Wigram electorate in 2020, losing to Labour by nearly 15,000 votes.
The electorate race is made all the more interesting by the inclusion of Raj Manji, a former two-term Christchurch city councillor with a background in finance who is now the leader of The Opportunities Party (TOP).
Manji, who became TOP leader in 2022, has openly said the party’s focus in the 2023 election was winning the Ilam electorate. He ran for Ilam as an independent in 2017, coming second to Brownlee and losing by 8200 votes. TOP has not yet been in Parliament.
With TOP polling firmly below 5% and neither Pallett nor Campbell high on their party lists, their only hope for being in Parliament is to win the Ilam seat.
Mike Davidson (Greens), Irinka Britnell (Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party), Chris O’Brien (New Conservatives) and Juanita O’Connell (Democracy NZ) are also contesting the seat.
Based on 2018 census data, Ilam is home to some of the most and least affluent residents in the city. It covers the suburbs of Ilam, Fendalton, Avonhead, west Merivale, Bryndwr, Burnside and Upper Riccarton.
Nearly half of Ilam’s residents earned under $30,000 a year, had the city’s highest proportion of people earning under $5000, and the second most people earning over $70,000.
The electorate was home to over 17,000 full time students, or 21% of the electorate, in 2018. It ranked third highest in Aotearoa both for numbers of full time students and for part-time employees, and among the lowest for full-time employees. Home ownership rates are average.
Ilam isn’t the youngest electorate in the city, but ranks the highest by far for 15 to 19-year-olds (third overall across New Zealand electorates) and relatively high for 20 to 24s (6th), 80 to 84s (13th) and 85+ (9th).
Ilam has the smallest percentage of Māori and Pasifika of the Christchurch electorates, and has the second-most Asian residents.
Ilam residents enjoy healthier lifestyles than their counterparts, based on some data collected by the census. The electorate ranks first in the country for students cycling to classes, and second for employees cycling to work.
It also ranks the lowest for the number of regular and ex-cigarette smokers, and is 10th overall in Aotearoa for number of people who have never picked the habit up.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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72.9% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.1% Hmm, maybe?
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11% Yes!
Secure your homes over summer
Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.
Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”
Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”
If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.
Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
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91% Yes
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9% No
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