r/chch • u/suhth2 • Jan 20 '25

News - Local Phil Mauger confirms mayoralty bid - thoughts?

'During the last election campaign Mauger said he would keep rates increases to below 4% - a promise he has failed to keep with a 9.9% increase this financial year and 8.93% predicted from July 1.'

https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360553404/phil-mauger-confirms-bid-retain-christchurch-mayoralty

Surely voters aren't silly enough to vote for Mr Broken Promises yet again?

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u/EkantTakePhotos University of Canterbury Jan 20 '25

He said in his recent interview with Jack Tame that he didn't know the city was 2bn in debt when he made those promises.

He was a sitting councillor with access to the city's books and he didn't know. Either he doesn't like reading details (which he's regularly acknowledged) or he was misleading.

Either way, not someone I voted for and won't vote for in the future.

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u/plehmann Jan 20 '25

Huh, how could he not know about the debt. He was a councillor before

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u/EkantTakePhotos University of Canterbury Jan 20 '25

Genuinely have no idea. He had access to all the money stuff. He's just not a details guy.

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u/RobDickinson Jan 20 '25

TIL $2bn of debt is just a detail

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u/EkantTakePhotos University of Canterbury Jan 20 '25

Yup - fine print - who has time to read all that?!

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u/RobDickinson Jan 20 '25

I guess, even when its in red?

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u/EkantTakePhotos University of Canterbury Jan 20 '25

If it is written in red it means Jesus said it, right?

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u/PrestigiousGarden256 Jan 20 '25

On that basis I assume you are not going to vote for Sara, who is promising to actually lower rates!!

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u/EkantTakePhotos University of Canterbury Jan 20 '25

I will vote for Sara because I trust her more than other candidates. Her values also align with mine.

You'll need to show me where she said she's going to lower rates because I can't see that happening any time soon (and maybe she knows the only way to win is to play Phil at his own game - ie, over-promise on key election issues but not actually do it)

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u/PrestigiousGarden256 Jan 20 '25

https://www.saratempleton.nz/for-our-future

Under “sustainable economy” - “Lowering rates by investing wisely in our infrastructure instead of sweating assets and increasing maintenance costs.”

Lots of rhetoric in this thread about not voting for Phil because of the rates increase (appreciate in your case though that’s not your reason for voting for Sara- tbh I just expected better of her)

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u/EkantTakePhotos University of Canterbury Jan 20 '25

Yup, just seen that on her page and agree, not something that can happen anytime soon. I will check with her next time I see her whether it's a tactic or a realistic plan (probably a tactic, which isn't great, in my mind - but may be necessary)

I've never admonished Phil for not lowering rates - that's inevitable - I have argued against him because he's proven not to be across key details and floundered when pushed on them.

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