Parker overtakes Anderton in mayoral race - poll

Christchurch's current Mayor, Bob Parker. Photo / Greg Bowker

Incumbent Bob Parker is way ahead of rival Jim Anderton in the race for the Christchurch city mayoralty, according to a poll issued today.

The UMR Research poll, the first public poll on the Christchurch mayoral contest since the region was hit by a 7.1 earthquake on September 4, shows that Mr Parker leads Mr Anderton, Progressive party MP for Wigram, by 55 per cent to 41 per cent among decided voters.

The last poll, in June, showed Mr Parker trailing Mr Anderton by 32 per cent (Parker 28 per cent, Anderton 60 per cent).

Christchurch city residents also believed that the rebuilding process in the city was being handled effectively, the poll showed.

Eighty-eight per cent believed that Mr Parker had handled the aftermath of the earthquake well.

Large majorities also thought that Civil Defence (94 per cent), the city council (90 per cent), EQC (88 per cent) and insurance companies had handled the aftermath well.

Fifty-six per cent of Christchurch city residents thought that people who did not have insurance should not be compensated for damage to their houses from the earthquake.

Results were based upon an online survey of a representative sample of 361 Christchurch city residents, conducted by UMR Research. The survey team was in the field from September 21-27, and the survey was paid for by UMR Research, and was not commissioned by any of the candidates or any other third party.

- NZPA