Unfortunately, Catherine is an apology for this final meeting. Catherine was elected to the Council for the Riccarton Ward on the Independent Citizens ticket in 2019. She had been a community board member for the three years before that.
Her CV was outstanding, and I remember asking her how she could have possibly achieved so much when she was only 23. She said that she started university when she was 15 years old. Clearly, she had extraordinary ability at a very young age.
Catherine announced earlier this year that she was not standing again. She has said that she is keen to explore options outside local government.
Please join with me to acknowledge her service and wish her well for the future.
Anne Galloway
I have said that Anne Galloway is quite simply one of the nicest human beings I have ever met. She is stepping down after serving as councillor for Halswell ward for the past two terms.
In all the years I have known Anne, I don’t think I have ever heard her say a bad word about anyone. She has a strong set of values, and she lives by them.
Her values have been to the fore in two of the key roles she has held at Council, including co-chairing Te Pae Pīkari (Youth Advisory Committee) and chairing Tahua Taupua (the Mayor's Welfare Fund).
Te Pae Pīkari stands for The Perch of Fledglings, and talks to how this committee is not only focused on the wants and needs of rangatahi/youth but also works from the tuakana–teina learning model.
Tuakana-teina describes the relationship held between a younger and older family member (although it doesn't have to refer to family). The teina/younger person has the tuakana/older person for mentorship and guidance.
However, the opposite relationship is equally as powerful, with the tuakana receiving fresh perspective, energy and creative ideas from their teina.
Through this committee, the Council wants to impart knowledge to the next generation; to lead well, make valuable decisions and encourage active community participation.
To do this effectively, it is vital that the Council listens to the voices of rangatahi who may be affected by the Council's decisions. By involving rangatahi in the decision-making process itself, it helps foster mutual understanding and fit-for-purpose outcomes.
From day one Anne has been passionate about involving young people in the democratic process. This has included providing opportunities to engage with Council and encouraging active citizenship.
Anne has also been a champion of providing meeting needs for those experiencing challenges in their lives and addressing inequity.
You are going to be missed from by fellow elected members as well as the staff you have worked with. Thank you so much for your six years of service as a councillor. You earned the trust and respect of your community and in all the decisions you’ve debated you have reflected a genuine empathy and care for our residents. We wish you well for the future.
Jimmy Chen
I remember Jimmy when you first came to see me all those years ago seeking advice on what to do to run for Council. I told you to door knock – and that’s what you did, keeping a record in a notebook of all the residents’ homes you visited – you used to show me your progress.
Four terms later since being elected in 2010 in the Riccarton/Wigram ward, and the Hornby Ward since 2016, Jimmy’s record has been exemplary. He is a true man of his community, a passionate and dedicated representative.
Jimmy was born in Taiwan – his parents were from Sichuan, China – and with his wife and two daughters he migrated to Christchurch in 1996.
I know how honoured I felt to travel with you to Sichuan as part of our Mayoral delegation to China in 2015. It was the first time you had been to the region where your family came from.
You have always been a strong advocate for the diverse communities that make up our city.
And your legacy is our city’s Multicultural Strategy – we were the first Council in the country to develop such a strategy and you can be proud of your role in making that happen, working closely as you have always done with representatives of our multicultural communities.
We attended our last citizenship ceremony together last night. I have valued you welcoming candidates to the ceremonies over the years that I have been Mayor. You have done so in Te Reo and in many community languages as well. You represent the story from migrant, to citizen, to city councillor. I am sure you have inspired
In addition to his role Chairing the Council's Multicultural Committee, you have chaired the Canterbury Waste and Regional Landfill Joint Committees.
You have been a champion for the south-west communities campaigning hard for Matatiki: Hornby Centre, the new library, customer services and recreation and sports centre. Jimmy a front row seat will be reserved with your name on it for the official opening.
Well done Jimmy for your years of remarkable service to our Council. We wish you a happy retirement with your family who want you home.
Although I do note you have been elected to your grandchild’s school board of trustees. Congratulations.
Andrew Turner
Andrew, how can I thank you enough? I have always said the ideal deputy Mayor is someone whose skills complemented the Mayor’s.
Well in our case yours certainly have and much, much more.
As deputy Mayor for the last two terms, you have been utterly dependable and reliable - my trusted right hand - always willing to step in whatever the occasion and whatever the notice.
You stepped in for me when I had to face an extremely difficult time in my life, and I will be forever grateful.
You stepped in again this year, this time at the 11th hour to lead the delegation to our sister city of Adelaide when I was hit by the flu. Even last weekend, you welcomed people to the Transitional Cathedral to pay their respects to the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and travelled to Wellington to represent our city at the National Memorial Service.
Not only are you an outstanding deputy Mayor, but you are a great chair whether it’s the Finance and Performance Committee or a working group, you have led and guided the council through a range of complex issues including our Long Term and Annual Plan processes.
You are a safe pair of hands, who has the ability to look for win-win solutions. I have never seen you flustered or angry in a meeting.
Next week you come to the end of three terms as councillor for the Banks Peninsula ward, having joined the Council following a term as an elected member of the Community Board. You are passionate about Banks Peninsula and many of the boards you serve on have links to the Peninsula.
It is fitting that the next chapter of your life is as manager of the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust – your dream job, which I believe you start the week following the election. They are lucky to have you, just as our city and this Council has been lucky to have you as a loyal servant to the community for so many years.
Thank you so much from the city, from the Council and from me personally.