Independent Citizens
Local political ticket in Christchurch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Independent Citizens are a local-body political ticket in Christchurch, New Zealand. They contest seats on the Christchurch City Council and on the city's community boards.[1]
Independent Citizens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairperson | Jason Middlemiss |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| Colours | Yellow |
| Christchurch City Council | 2 / 17 |
| Christchurch Community Board members | 6 / 36 |
| Website | |
| independentcitizens.org.nz | |
The group's members lean centre-right politically.[1] The group serves as the main group for the city's right wing, acting in opposition to the city's centre-left group The People's Choice.[2]
Positions and platform
The group advocates for traditional centre-right positions, such as lowering rates and spending only on "the basics".[3]
According to Independent Citizens councillor Sam MacDonald, the group's constitution forbids whipping of group members to vote a certain way.[2]
The group is associated with the National Party, though this association is not official.[4]
History
2022–2025 term
For the 2022–2025 term, the group had two elected members, James Gough (Fendalton ward)[5] and Sam MacDonald (Waimairi ward).[6][7] They also had six community board members.[8]
2025 election
In the 2025 election, they put forward 3 candidates for city council. Incumbent Sam MacDonald was re-elected unopposed.[9]
Lists of representatives
2022–2025 term
Initially two Independent Citizens candidates were elected as councillors and six were elected to community boards. Luke Chandler was appointed to the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton community board following the resignation of People's Choice-affiliated member Gamal Fouda.[10]
Independent Citizens elected members for the 2022–2025 term included:[‡ 1][10]
| Ward | Name | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Fendalton | James Gough | |
| Waimairi | Sam MacDonald |  |
| Community board | Subdivision | Name |
| Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood (in majority) | Harewood | Jason Middlemiss |
| Linda Chen | ||
| Waimairi | Shirish Paranjape | |
| Fendalton | David Cartwright | |
| Bridget Williams | ||
| Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton (in minority) | Riccarton | Helen Broughton |
| Luke Chandler |