Q & A with Urban Ward candidate Crichton Christie

 We continue our series of articles featuring candidates standing in the October local body elections.

One of Whangarei’s longest-serving local body councillors has announced he will be standing for election for the WDC Urban Ward.

Crichton Christie has extensive experience as a WDC councillor in the Denby Ward (Kamo), which is now part of the enlarged Urban Ward.  While a councillor, he held various senior roles, including the chairmanship of the planning, infrastructure and finance committees.  

We had a coffee with Crichton to find out why he had decided to stand again after a six-year break. 

COUNCIL FINANCES SLAMMED

A former councillor and finance committee chairman has expressed serious concerns about the state of Whangarei District Council finances.

Crichton Christie served on the Council for 11 terms, including time as the head of the council’s finance committee. He told LETTERBOX,

“The council’s finances have deteriorated in recent years. Total debt and rates have increased faster than the rate of inflation, which is now costing ratepayers dearly.