Name: The Left in Local Government - Limits & Opportunities [CSS Panel Event]
Start: 2025-01-22T18:30:00+13:00
Location: Space Academy

The Left in Local Government - Limits & Opportunities [CSS Panel Event]

The Canterbury Socialist Society are back for 2025 with our first event, a panel exploring the political left in the context of local government.
Local Government in Aotearoa/New Zealand is fairly opaque. The level of powers devolved to local bodies is less significant than in much of the world, but is nonetheless broader than often understood. Participation in elections, not only in voter turn out but even in the number of candidates who run is regularly minimal.
Nonetheless left wing independents do contest and win seats on platforms that are (broadly speaking) pro-worker, in favour of environmental protection, encouraging of participatory democracy, and protective of public goods and services.
In this panel we invite local councillors, Celeste Donovan (CCC) and Greg Byrnes (ECAN), Melanie Coker (CCC) and Sara Templeton (CCC) in conversation with CSS member Tom Roud to discuss the limits, opportunities, challenges, and general experiences of holding office in local government. More panelists have been invited and we await their responses.
As always, our events are free and open to the public.
6.30pm for a 7pm start.
A huge thank you to Space Academy for hosting us as we enter our seventh year of events in their venue!