Heathcote Councillor and mayoral candidate Sara Templeton has resigned as a director on the board of Christchurch City Holdings Limited (CCHL).

In an email, CCHL CEO Matthew Slater said, “The Board of Christchurch City Holdings Limited (CCHL) announces the resignation of Director Sara Templeton, effective today.

“Sara has served on the CCHL Board since 2019 and believes the time is right to step aside to provide the opportunity for another Councillor to join CCHL.”

CCHL Chair Bryan Pearson thanked Templeton for her contributions to the board, highlighting the challenges she faced when joining just prior to Covid-19 and her significant work on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) matters.

“A particular thanks is given to Sara for the invaluable stability and continuity she has provided throughout her appointment. CCHL looks forward to Christchurch City Council appointing a replacement Councillor Director in due course,” Pearson said.

Templeton told chrislynchmedia.com, “It has become clear over the summer since I announced [my candidacy] that I’m going to need to be able to talk openly about my views on our city-owned companies.

“I had been planning on resigning later in the year, but on reflection, this timing makes more sense as it enables another councillor to step into this rewarding role for the majority of the year. That’s in the best interests of both CCHL and Council,” she said.

Templeton said, “This is not without precedent, and one councillor director resigned ahead of time in 2022 as well.”

“I had a great break and am feeling refreshed and ready for the year. I’m looking forward to the campaign and a clean contest based on our track records and policies.”

Templeton announced her candidacy for the Christchurch mayoralty in October, telling chrislynchmedia.com that she wants to lead Christchurch into a more sustainable and inclusive future. At the time, she said her campaign would focus on greater transparency, improving community engagement, and ensuring the city’s growth aligns with environmental priorities.

“I’m running for mayor because I believe Christchurch deserves strong, future-focused leadership. We need a leader who listens and works collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes for all residents,” Templeton said in October.