Big political decision looms for Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner

Christchurch Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner has a big decision to make if he runs for mayor next year - will he represent The People’s Choice, Labour or both organisations?

The People’s Choice caucus leader is yet to declare whether he will contest the mayoralty in 2022. Centre-right independent city councillor Phil Mauger is the only candidate to confirm he will target the role that is being vacated by Lianne Dalziel who has spent nine years in charge of New Zealand's second-biggest city.

• Labour could make bid for mayoralty
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Turner, who is currently the Banks Peninsula Ward councillor and deputy mayor, is considering whether to align with The People’s Choice, Labour, or both as some colleagues chose two years ago.

"All of those decisions are yet to be made," Turner said.

"There are a number of things I’m still considering, bearing in mind the election is still over a year away.

"Any announcement will be made in due course."

Should he attempt to succeed Dalziel and run exclusively with Labour, the party could secure the Christchurch mayoralty for the first time since Neville Pickering’s tenure from 1971-1974.

Turner secured the Banks Peninsula council seat on The People’s Choice ticket in 2019, with the organisation saying candidates may choose to stand under the Labour banner.

Kelly Barber, who was a People’s Choice-Labour candidate when he unsuccessfully sought election to the Coastal Ward council seat in 2019, has opted to run with Labour in next month’s by-election to replace James Daniels.

Other candidates could follow Barber’s lead next October.

"What I think you will see next year is you will see people just running Labour, which will be quite a significant difference," The People’s Choice chairman Joe Davies said.

"That might blast open the doors to people running independent or not Labour.

"It’s going to be a big year for centre-left Christchurch local politics, particularly going into a big mayoral campaign.

"There’s going to be very intense discussions internally around the mayoral campaign. 

"Are we going to select as Labour? Are we going to select as The People’s Choice? Are we going to select as both? These (questions) are all ongoing," Davies said.

The selection committees are made up of The People’s Choice and Labour members.

Barber said he opted to run exclusively as a Labour candidate for the sake of transparency.

"Last time I was The People’s Choice and Labour," he said.

"A lot of people don’t actually declare who they are and this time I thought I’d do that."