Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has defended the co‑governance model of the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Committee, which is investigating potential regeneration of the residential red zone. He says progress had stalled, and locals wanted the council to “get on with it.”

“It was going round in circles, so we decided to grab it by the throat, sit down, and get on with it and make decisions.”

The City Council has agreed to engage with community housing providers, Kāinga Ora, iwi, charitable trusts, and private developers, focusing on more than 10 hectares of red‑zoned land.

Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, Mauger also acknowledged concerns from central city residents about the rise of Airbnbs in the Christchurch CBD, but believes the market will correct itself.

“If there are a lot of Ubers around, the price goes down. If there are a lot of Airbnbs, the price will go down, and people will think, ‘I’m not making money from this,’ and put them back on the market.”

“So it’ll sort itself out, I’m sure.”

Mauger also discussed his idea to establish a solar farm in Bexley, as well as his views on the Government’s push for council amalgamations.

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