Independent Citizens
{{Short description|Local political ticket in Christchurch}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Independent Citizens
| logo = File:Independent Citizens logo.png
| colorcode = {{Template:New Zealand local body group colour|party=Independent Citizens}}
| chairperson = Jason Middlemiss
| website = [https://www.independentcitizens.org.nz independentcitizens.org.nz]
| country = New Zealand
| colours = {{colour box|{{Template:New Zealand local body group colour|party=Independent Citizens}}}} Yellow
| position = Centre-right
| seats1_title = Christchurch City Council
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|2|17|hex={{Template:New Zealand local body group colour|party=Independent Citizens}}}}
| seats2_title = Christchurch Community Board members
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|6|36|hex={{Template:New Zealand local body group colour|party=Independent Citizens}}}}
}}
Independent Citizens are a local-body political ticket in Christchurch, New Zealand. They contest seats on the Christchurch City Council and on the city's community boards.{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Sinead |date=10 April 2025 |title=Appointment of 'mate' to community board bad for democracy, critic says |url=https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360648657/plan-appoint-mate-community-board-bad-democracy-critic-says |website=The Press}}
The group's members lean centre-right politically. The group serves as the main group for the city's right wing, acting in opposition to the city's centre-left group The People's Choice.{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Tina |date=15 January 2022 |title=Party politics: A blessing or a curse for local government? |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/127431727/party-politics-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-local-government |website=Stuff}}
Positions and platform
The group advocates for traditional centre-right positions, such as lowering rates and spending only on "the basics".{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Tina |last2=Harris |first2=Dominic |date=18 October 2019 |title=Diverse new group to take seats around Christchurch City Council table |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/116633666/diverse-new-group-to-take-seats-around-christchurch-city-council-table |website=Stuff}}
According to Independent Citizens councillor Sam MacDonald, the group's constitution forbids whipping of group members to vote a certain way.
The group is associated with the National Party, though this association is not official.{{Cite web |last=Gunn |first=Andrew |date=27 August 2022 |title=Local elections heating up, not in a good way |url=https://www.pressreader.com/search?query=%22Independent%20Citizens%22&newspapers=1272&date=Anytime&orderBy=Date&hideSimilar=0&type=2&state=2 |website=The Press}}
Elected members
For the 2022–2025 term, the group had two elected members, James Gough (Fendalton ward){{Cite web |title=Fendalton Ward |url= https://www.independentcitizens.org.nz/fendalton |access-date=29 May 2025 |website=Independent Citizens}} and Sam MacDonald (Waimairi ward).{{Cite web |title=Waimairi Ward |url= https://www.independentcitizens.org.nz/waimairi |access-date=29 May 2025 |website=Independent Citizens}}{{Cite web |title=Deputy Mayor and Councillors |url=https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/how-the-council-works/elected-members/deputy-mayor-and-councillors |access-date=29 May 2025 |website=Christchurch City Council}} They also had six community board members.{{Cite web |title=Representatives |url=https://www.independentcitizens.org.nz |access-date=29 May 2025 |website=Independent Citizens}}