| Bob Parker | |
|---|---|
| 45th Mayor of Christchurch | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Garry Moore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1953 |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Spouse(s) | (2nd marriage) Joanna Parker-Nicholls |
| Residence | Christchurch Central City |
| Profession | Mayor of Christchurch |
| Website | [1] (official council website) |
Bob Parker (born 1953) is a former television host and current mayor of Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Parker grew up in the Christchurch suburbs of Heathcote Valley and Somerfield. He attended Christchurch South Intermediate and Cashmere High School. He studied an intermediate year in Zoology at the University of Canterbury before undertaking casual work.[1]
Parker got his first job in radio in Christchurch. His broadcasting career then took him to Wellington and then Auckland.[1] He was the original host (1984–1996) of the New Zealand version of the successful This is Your Life series. He returned to Christchurch in 1992.[2]
Having lived in Akaroa for several years, Parker served as mayor of Banks Peninsula District for two terms (2001–2006). He favoured amalgamation of the district with Christchurch City.[3] Amalgamation took place on 3 March 2006, at which Parker became a Christchurch City Councillor, and the sole Banks Peninsula representative on the council.
In October 2007, Parker successfully stood in the local government elections for the Christchurch mayoralty, after the retirement of Garry Moore.[4] He received 47,033 votes, with Megan Woods (32,821) and Jo Giles (14,454) in the election contested by ten candidates.[5]
Parker announced in 2009 that he would seek re-election at the 2010 Christchurch mayoral election.[6]
Despite being the incumbent, he was consistently rated as well behind his major challenger[7][8] [9] until the large 2010 Canterbury earthquake[10] on 4 September 2010. His high-profile handling of the civil emergency was widely praised,[11] and polls taken later showed him taking the lead.[12] It was announced on 9 October that Bob Parker had been re-elected for a second term with 68,245 of the votes to Jim Anderton's 51,566 based on 98% of the votes counted.[13]
Mayor Bob Parker was the incumbent mayor at the time of the earthquake. During the days following the quake, the Mayor worked with Civil Defence, the police and the New Zealand Army to get the city back up and running.
Mayor Bob Parker has been the media face of the recovery efforts in the aftermath of the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, working with the police and the army and rescue squads, as well as answering the media's questions.
On 18 March, Bob Parker addressed in the national Christchurch memorial service at Hagley Park of Christchurch in the presence of Prince William, Prime Minister John Key, Dame Malvina Major, Hayley Westenra, ChristChurch Cathedral Choir, dignitaries, international rescue teams and tens of thousands of New Zealanders.[14]
Bob Parker was polling significantly behind Jim Anderton before the 4 September earthquake in the run up to the election. The earthquake caused Bob Parker to be given prime time television news interviews for days on end, while Jim Anderton got little coverage. If it weren't for this, it is highly unlikely that Bob Parker would have been re-elected as mayor.[15]
Recent outrage has been expressed at the Parker-led council, after Christchurch City Council CEO Tony Marryatt was given a near $70,000 pay rise.[16]
Parker has three sons from his first marriage, plus two grandchildren. His second marriage is to Joanna Nicholls-Parker.[1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Noeline Allan |
Mayor of Banks Peninsula 2001–2006 |
Office abolished |
| Preceded by Garry Moore |
Mayor of Christchurch 2007–present |
Incumbent |