Guest Speakers
From:
Bob Parker
Date:
2007 Jun 12 01:36 UTC
Short link
Hi, I am Bob Parker, writing from my home in Central Christchurch.
I was born in Christchurch, grew up in Heathcote Valley (next door to the
Valley Inn Pub!)in Flavel Street.
Went to Heathcote Primary, South Intermediate, Cashmere High and University of
Canterbury (1 year). Then went to Wellington to study pharmacy and later
returned to Christchurch.
Later I worked as a broadcaster based in Nelson, Christchurch, Wellington and
Auckland before being involved in a computer software/hardware startup (video
edit systems) in a joint venture with Aoraki Corporation (Jade Software).
I chose to return to my home town of Christchurch around 16 years ago, bought
an old house in Akaroa, and maintained a small apartment in the Arts Centre in
central Christchurch. More recently Joanna (my fiancee) and I have purchased an
older apartment in the central city which has become our home.
I have three adult sons (Nick -electronic engineer in Perth, Anson - software
and design in California, Daniel - broadcaster in Auckland), and I am about to
remarry.
I am currently a councillor with the Christchurch City Council and will be
putting my name forward as a candidate for the Mayoralty in the local
government elections in late September/early October this year. Joanna is
currently completing a post-grad course in Art Curatorship at Uni, and is an
artist in her own right.
I have had 14 years experience in local government at the level of community
board, councillor and for 5 years as the mayor of Banks Peninsula, now part of
Christchurch. Following the merger of the City and Peninsula I stood in the
by-election and was elected to the CCC as a councillor.
I have chosen to stand in the mayoralty as a non-aligned candidate and do not
belong to any political party (now or in the past).
As the mayoralty must represent a City with many perspectives, political,
cultural, social and economic, many people have told me that they think it is
important to have a mayor who is above party politics - and I agree with them.
As this is a two-way dialogue, I am interested in the issues that you believe
are the important ones facing Council in the coming three years.
Looking forward to the conversation,
Bob Parker.