Christchurch residents’ advocate and former journalist Tony Simons has announced his candidacy as an independent for Riccarton in this year’s local body elections.
Simons, who has chaired the Riccarton Bush-Kilmarnock Residents’ Association since 2016, is known for his role in opposing aspects of the controversial city council Plan Change.
In September 2022, Simons was instrumental in the council’s decision to reject PC14, making Christchurch the only city in New Zealand to do so.
“It was a brave and dramatic move,” Simons said. “It convinced me that residents’ voices make a difference. We helped shift attention back onto good city planning.”
Following this, Simons formed the Combined Residents’ Association, a coalition of 25 groups across Christchurch. The association played a significant role in persuading the government to revise its medium-density zoning plans for the city.
“PC14 is now better for Christchurch. It’s not perfect by any means, but we’ve stopped wholesale random densification,” Simons said. “We also secured protection for Riccarton Bush and saved Matai Street West from high-density development.”
Simons he worked as a radio journalist for 17 years before becoming the long-serving head of the New Zealand Broadcasting School, a position he held until 2022.
He now drives the Christchurch Trams a few days a week. “I now get to work with great down-to-earth colleagues and promote Christchurch to people who are almost always happy and enjoying themselves,” he said.
Simons, who is married with three sons and six grandchildren, said his campaign will focus on fundamental issues such as infrastructure, housing intensification, transport, parking, and community safety.
“I believe the city needs to focus on basic infrastructure and services and commit to those as soon as possible. The rest can wait. Limiting future rates is a priority but can only be achieved if there are enough councillors willing to bite the bullet.”
He also expressed concerns about the future of Riccarton.
“I want to see Riccarton growing sustainably and not turning into a de-facto CBD. Our focus needs to be re-populating the city centre first, with more trees, less concrete, and more open spaces for Riccarton,” he said.
