The People's Choice | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Paul McMahon |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Ideology | Social democracy |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Colors | Red |
| Christchurch City Council | 5 / 17 |
| Christchurch Community Board members | 14 / 36 |
| Environment Canterbury | 2 / 13 |
| Website | |
| http://www.peopleschoice.co.nz/ | |
The People's Choice (previouslyChristchurch 2021) is a centre-left political ticket that contests elections for theChristchurch City Council, and theCanterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) inChristchurch, New Zealand.
The group serves as the council's major left of centre bloc, opposing the centre-right groupIndependent Citizens. The group has formal connections to theLabour Party.
The People's Choice was founded as Christchurch 2021 in 1995.[1]
Megan Woods, later a cabinet minister and MP, was Christchurch 2021's mayoral candidate in2007.[2]
The ticket has an association with the Labour Party, and although it has never run a mayoral candidate under its modern title, it tends to support centre-left mayors both on council and during election campaigns.[3]
At the2019 elections, People's Choice candidates won seven seats in the Christchurch City Council.[4]
Throughout its existence, The People's Choice has been associated with national left-wing parties, including the Labour Party, theAlliance, and theGreen Party. As of the2025 Christchurch City Council election, it has a strong association with the Labour Party, receiving logistical and volunteer support from local Labour branches in Christchurch, and a memorandum of understanding with the Green Party.[2]
The People's Choice sits to the left of the centre-rightIndependent Citizens grouping on council.[5]
In its2016 policy manifesto, the ticket voiced support for a rental warrant of fitness and "supporting Māori economic development through partnership with Ngāi Tahu and otheriwi".[6]
Representatives for The People's Choice make a commitment to pay a portion of their salary as an elected member to the ticket's organisation. Melanie Coker, campaign manager of The People's Choice for the 2025 council elections, has said that this enables the ticket to support candidates who may not otherwise have the means to support a campaign by themselves, increasing political diversity. The People's Choice does not normally contest every seat in Christchurch, prioritising electoral contests where its candidates have the highest chance of victory. Paul McMahon, co-chair of The People's Choice as of 2025, citedHarewood ward as an area that would likely be unwinnable for the ticket due to the area's right-wing bent.[2]