Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel is taking time off to care for her sick husband.

Dalziel said “I am taking a leave of absence due to the state of my husband’s health and ask that our privacy be respected at this time,” the Mayor says. “I will be making no further comment.” 

Husband Rob Davidson, and father of councillor Mike Davidson, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late 2018.

Shortly after the diagnosis in a column for The Christchurch Star, Lianne Dalziel said “Rob came back from overseas feeling unwell.”

“He went to the doctor and began a barrage of tests.”

“Finally a bone scan and a biopsy confirmed it was prostate cancer. It came as a big shock.”

Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner will be the Acting Mayor during this period.