Pauline Cotter appointed as Deputy Mayor

Mayor Phil Mauger has appointed Innes ward Councillor Pauline Cotter as Deputy Mayor.

Mayor Mauger announced her appointment this afternoon after he was officially sworn in as Mayor of Christchurch at a special ceremony in the Council Chamber.

“Pauline Cotter brings a wealth of experience to the role of Deputy Mayor and I think she and I will make a great team,’’ says Mayor Mauger.

“Pauline and I both grew up in Christchurch, we care passionately for the city, and we share a commitment to working collaboratively together to get the best outcomes for the city and Banks Peninsula.’’

Cr Cotter was first elected to Christchurch City Council in 2013 but she has been involved in local politics at the Community Board level since 2007. A mother of four, she has lived in St Albans for more than 30 years.

Cr Cotter says serving as Christchurch’s Deputy Mayor will be a privilege.

“I know the Mayor wanted an experienced Councillor as his Deputy this term, and I certainly fit the criteria. I intend to keep a close eye on our climate change programme and community participation in achieving our goals. Of course, a strong focus on reducing transport emissions is part of that.

“I will bring my experience to help the Mayor achieve a well-functioning Council and my established collaborative relationships with management and staff will assist,’’ Cr Cotter says.

“I hope that I can help build rapport around the Council table, especially around those difficult conversations. The fact that Phil and I have differing approaches and skill sets should offer a nice balance.’’