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1. In October, local elections will be held across Christchurch. Chris Lynch Media has contacted all current Christchurch City Councillors to ask why they are seeking re-election. Each councillor was invited to respond to a series of questions about their record, priorities, and vision for the city. Here’s what Fendalton Councillor James Gough had to say:

I care deeply about our community and want to continue playing my part in helping shape it for the better. Serving as an elected representative has been a real privilege, and I remain as motivated as ever to make a positive difference. In my earlier years, I knew this work mattered – but now, as a husband and particularly as a father of three young children, it carries even more meaning. I see things increasingly through the lens of the next generation. Christchurch is my home too, and I’m committed to helping it thrive – not just for today, but for future generations.

The biggest issue is rates – plain and simple. The Council can’t keep increasing rates at double or triple the rate of inflation and expect that to be sustainable. What’s not widely understood is that if your home is valued above the city’s average (currently around $760,000), you’re facing a higher rates increase than the figure Council publicly states. That’s because many of our rates are progressive rather than flat. If we had a larger uniform annual general charge, the increases would be more evenly spread – but we don’t.

For example, if you own a $1 million+ home, but live on a modest or fixed income, you’re potentially on-track to being priced out of your own home and community that you’ve built a life in. That’s simply not right. We need to take a hard look at this model, because it’s not just unsustainable, it’s unfair.

Unfortunately, the current makeup of Council, by a slim majority, fiercely endorses this system. But with a stronger team around the table who share a commitment to financial discipline and common sense – like Mayor Phil Mauger – I believe we can bring about meaningful change. This election is a chance for people to vote for those values and set a better course for Christchurch.

Where Council has fallen short is when ideology takes precedence over practical solutions. Transport is a prime example, with over-engineered cycleways, excessive speed bumps, and a growing anti-car sentiment that’s simply gone too far. Council undermines its own plans and then identifies a congestion problem that they’ve directly created. It’s incredibly frustrating.

Another major misstep was the decision not to even consult on a business case for actively managing our investment portfolio, including the potential to bring in strategic partners to some of our Council-owned subsidiaries (several of which are already not fully council owned). This was never about ‘selling the family silver’ or losing control – it was about growing the pie, improving performance, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

Some councillors who opposed it either knew the current setup wasn’t viable and chose to misrepresent it, or they legitimately didn’t understand the commercial realities. Either way, it doesn’t bode well, and ratepayers will ultimately foot the bill for the lack of foresight.

That said, there have been some clear wins. The One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha is a standout. It’s on time, on budget, and set to open in April next year. After years of uncertainty and delays, it’s finally becoming a reality. Keeping the project on track has been impressive, but what’s even more exciting is what it will mean for Christchurch – injecting energy, foot traffic, and economic activity. It’s something the entire region will benefit from for decades to come.

Another success was securing the full $85 million insurance payout for the fire-damaged wastewater treatment plant. The new facility is cleaner and greener and is projected to reduce emissions by up 50%. It’s a smart, future-focused result for the environment and the community.

For me, it’s all about people. I bring a business lens with a people focus. That’s the foundation of how I approach the role. I care about delivering tangible outcomes, and that means being commercially sensible while staying grounded in what matters most to residents.

I also genuinely enjoy being out in the community – you learn the most when you’re present, approachable, and listening.

The biggest challenge has been trying to drive sensible, outcomes-focused decisions in an environment where common sense is often in the minority. With 17 elected members around the table, it takes nine votes to pass anything at Council – including the Mayor’s, who has just one vote like everyone else – and on a good day, we might have eight who reliably support a pragmatic, fiscally responsible approach. That makes progress challenging.

I find the increasingly ideological tone around the table relatively painful. It’s reinforced how important it is to have grounded but commercially-minded representatives. When decisions shape the future of our city, they need to be made with discipline and balance, and that’s what I try to bring.

After nearly 15 years as a City Councillor, there are plenty of moments I’m proud of, but one that stands out is reversing the decision to downsize the stadium. After the seat numbers were cut, we successfully pushed to restore it to a 30,000-seat venue. That means Christchurch will have a world-class facility capable of hosting major events, attracting visitors, and giving our region the platform it deserves. We only had one chance to get this right.

I also have to mention the work I led on the inner-city housing rebate scheme, which helped reduce development costs and incentivise much-needed residential investment in the central city. Alongside that, the Barrier Sites Policy – known as the “Dirty 30” – targeted long-neglected, derelict properties that were holding back progress. Together, these initiatives lifted the standard of development, tackled urban blight, and helped inject fresh life into the heart of Christchurch.

With the benefit of experience, I’d place greater focus on early and proactive community engagement to get ahead of issues before they become problems. The earlier people are brought into the conversation, the better the outcome tends to be.

Also, I’d back my instincts more from day one. Over time, you develop a strong feel for what’s going to work and what won’t. I’ve learned that it’s worth trusting that judgment and speaking up early and clearly. The goal is always to get better outcomes for residents, and I’d use that experience to help drive better decision-making.

I tend to listen more to podcasts, such as The Joe Rogan Experience, Lex Fridman, The Diary of a CEO, Making Sense with Sam Harris, What A Lad, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, David Kipping’s Cool Worlds, along with Sean Carroll and Brian Greene. As for music – with three kids aged seven years and under – Disney soundtracks are on high rotation during car rides.

I don’t know if it’s fun, but based on some of my podcast choices, some might gather I’m a bit of a nerd. I enjoy things about business, property, politics and rugby, but I’m equally fascinated by quantum physics, philosophy, and space. I’m also a bit of a plane buff, and while I’m not current, I did flight training for my Private Pilot’s Licence in my early twenties.

For cafes, a few favourites come to mind – Brigittes in Merivale, Hello Sunday in Sydenham, and The Lil Brew in Redcliffs.

As for restaurants, given I’m a director of The Terrace, there’s some bias, but I can genuinely say you can’t go wrong with any of the venues there. The Terrace is the preeminent hospitality precinct in the South Island for a reason. Whiskey Fiddle’s steak is second to none, and King of Snake is an institution in its own right. I’m also a fan of ROCA – the latest offering from the King of Snake team. They’ve also just taken over Botanic on the first floor of The Terrace and they’re underway with an entirely new and exciting concept. I won’t steal their thunder, but it’s one to watch as it promises to be special. There’s a lot to be proud of in Christchurch’s hospitality scene right now.