Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has confirmed he will stand for re-election, promising to tackle rate increases, cut unnecessary spending, and deliver key infrastructure projects.

“I really love this job. I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved and what the council has achieved. Christchurch is a city on the rise, and I want to continue the good work that has been done,” Mauger said. “I still have the vision that Christchurch is going to be the best place to work, live, invest, and play in the country.”

Mauger pointed to his strong relationship with central government, saying it was critical for securing funding for projects like the Pages Road bridge. “The relationship I’ve managed to build with central government is the best it’s ever been. I went to the Minister of Transport and got the Pages Road bridge funding brought forward,” he said.

On the controversial Bromley organics processing plant, Mauger said he fought hard to have it relocated. “The people of Bromley had had enough. I managed to get that moved off-site.”

He acknowledged the delays in rebuilding the wastewater treatment plant after the fire but defended his decision to push for advanced technology. “I’m still sorry it took so long, but we’re now building an activated sludge system. It’s state-of-the-art and will lower greenhouse gas emissions by 60%.”

Mauger faced criticism over significant rate increases during his term and said he understood the frustrations of ratepayers. “I know ratepayers are unhappy—I was one of them. I’m disappointed the rate rise was as high as it was. We’ve got to make rate increases more affordable,” he said.

He suggested savings could be found by adjusting the frequency of services. “We’re not cutting services altogether, but we can look at how often we deliver them. We need to get the best bang for our buck,” Mauger said. “I tried to do that, but I didn’t have the numbers around the council table.”

He promised a stronger focus on rates if re-elected. “Rest assured, I want rates increases to be as low as possible.”

Mauger identified four key priorities for his next term: making rates affordable, delivering essential services, protecting the environment, and completing infrastructure projects on time and on budget.

“You don’t win any friends when you have budget blowouts,” he said. “Christchurch has been to hell and back, and I don’t want to lose the momentum we’ve built. Major projects need to be completed on time and within budget.”

Mauger also highlighted the importance of environmental sustainability. “Protecting our environment wherever possible is extremely important. As part of the Canterbury Climate Partnership, we’re working on reducing emissions and building resilience,” he said.

Mauger said he had earned the trust of Christchurch residents through his ability to deliver results. “I have a good track record. I feel I get stuff done. I have a great relationship with central government—I can pick up the phone and go see them anytime I like,” he said.

He thanked voters for their support in the last election and said he was motivated to continue. “Thank you for voting me in last time. I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m very motivated to do it again. We are a city on the rise, so let’s get into it.”