Christchurch City Council

Riccarton Ward
The Christchurch City Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also makes decisions about building and planning, local regulations, and infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage. The council is made up of 16 councillors and the mayor. Councillors are elected to represent wards (areas in the city). One councillor will be elected from the Riccarton ward. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Christchurch City Council election.

Rates and revenue

The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.

Rates and revenue

The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.

  • Improve road safety and quality by bringing forward and prioritising the carriageway servicing, resealing and sealing programmes.

    Retain council assets for continued returns that can be invested into the climate change policy and community and business renewal projects.

    Keep the current envisaged rates increase as envisaged, but do not increase, and provide rates relief in cases of retiree hardship.

  • Optimise budgeting and development plans to minimise the increase in rates to provide a fair and equitable rates charge.

    Pursue partnerships for future development that decreases the load on ratepayers.

    Explore ways to optimise development in vacant sites in the CBD.

  • Drive better coordination between central, local and regional councils to support a reduction in overall government expenses.

    Commit to smart and fair capital investment and funding and delivering on projects that attract businesses and people.

    Investigate alternative ways of funding – private/ public partnerships, reprioritisation of capital spend and current ownership of assets.

  • Adopt a result-oriented style of spending where residents see the results of expenditure, rather than lost in the bureaucracy.

    Commit to rate rises that are as low as possible, while acknowledging they do indeed have to rise.

    Approach debt with a progressive mindset where it can be deployed, sensibly, to grow our city in many ways.

  • Commit to trying to do savings and better budgeting so there won't be a rate increase and look at a rate decrease.

    Look at council land banks and see if any can be sold to use that money for other council requirements.

    Advocate for better financial planning and stop gold plating everything.

  • Maximize the use of council assets to bring down the proportion of revenue that is rates.

    Expand council-owned businesses with explicit aim of generating revenue for the city.

  • Improve road safety and quality by bringing forward and prioritising the carriageway servicing, resealing and sealing programmes.

    Retain council assets for continued returns that can be invested into the climate change policy and community and business renewal projects.

    Keep the current envisaged rates increase as envisaged, but do not increase, and provide rates relief in cases of retiree hardship.

  • Optimise budgeting and development plans to minimise the increase in rates to provide a fair and equitable rates charge.

    Pursue partnerships for future development that decreases the load on ratepayers.

    Explore ways to optimise development in vacant sites in the CBD.

  • Drive better coordination between central, local and regional councils to support a reduction in overall government expenses.

    Commit to smart and fair capital investment and funding and delivering on projects that attract businesses and people.

    Investigate alternative ways of funding – private/ public partnerships, reprioritisation of capital spend and current ownership of assets.

  • Adopt a result-oriented style of spending where residents see the results of expenditure, rather than lost in the bureaucracy.

    Commit to rate rises that are as low as possible, while acknowledging they do indeed have to rise.

    Approach debt with a progressive mindset where it can be deployed, sensibly, to grow our city in many ways.

  • Commit to trying to do savings and better budgeting so there won't be a rate increase and look at a rate decrease.

    Look at council land banks and see if any can be sold to use that money for other council requirements.

    Advocate for better financial planning and stop gold plating everything.

  • Maximize the use of council assets to bring down the proportion of revenue that is rates.

    Expand council-owned businesses with explicit aim of generating revenue for the city.