Christchurch (Webfit News) Opportunity Party candidate Eden Skipper wants Christchurch Central to have a stronger voice in Parliament, arguing that housing affordability, transport...
Christchurch (Webfit News)
Opportunity Party candidate Eden Skipper wants Christchurch Central to have a stronger voice in Parliament, arguing that housing affordability, transport investment and reliable public services require more cooperation between politicians.
In an interview with Webfit News, Skipper outlined proposals for regulating short-stay accommodation, supporting community housing and making visitors contribute towards local infrastructure.
He also called for Canterbury MPs to work together across party lines, saying the region’s needs should carry more weight in national decisions.
Born and raised in Little River on Banks Peninsula, Skipper now lives in Christchurch Central. His background includes public service in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, environmental restoration and Māori development.
He said frustration with changing political priorities had helped persuade him to stand.
Healthcare, education and infrastructure needed certainty, he argued, rather than repeated changes whenever governments changed.
Housing: more buildings should mean more homes
For Skipper, Christchurch’s housing debate goes beyond how many properties developers complete.
The questions are whether those homes are affordable, suitable for long-term living and available to people who want to make the city their home.
Although Christchurch remains comparatively affordable against some other New Zealand cities, he said that did not mean buying or renting was easy for everyone.
He raised concerns about central-city properties being used for short-stay accommodation rather than permanent housing.
However, the interview did not establish how many homes had been removed from the long-term rental market. New dwelling numbers and population changes alone cannot show how many properties are empty or used for holiday accommodation.
Skipper’s proposed starting point is a mandatory register of short-term accommodation.
That would give authorities clearer information about which properties were being used for visitor accommodation and help identify operators not meeting relevant requirements.
He also supported allowing councils to introduce a visitor accommodation levy, with the revenue reserved for infrastructure.
During the interview, he suggested a rate of around 2.5 percent as an example, rather than presenting it as a settled nationwide charge.
The argument is that visitors use local roads, facilities and services, while councils rely heavily on residents’ rates to fund them.
A levy could provide another revenue source. Whether it would return properties to long-term housing would depend on its design and how owners responded.
Supporting affordable and community housing
Skipper also highlighted Opportunity’s proposal to return GST revenue to councils from new homes meeting strong environmental standards.
The party’s published housing policy says that money would support local infrastructure and community housing.
It also proposes access to low-cost government finance for councils, community housing providers, iwi and trusted developers delivering affordable or social housing.
For residents, the intended benefit is a wider choice of housing, including options for people unable to buy or secure an affordable private rental.
Skipper said the quality of new development mattered alongside the quantity.
Homes should be energy-efficient and suitable for the city’s future, rather than simply adding more buildings.
He also backed the party’s proposed land value tax, arguing that New Zealand needed to shift investment away from holding land for financial gain.
These are proposed changes. Their effects on prices, development and household costs would depend on the final rules and implementation.
Transport: connect housing with how people travel
Skipper, who said he regularly cycles around Christchurch, argued that buses, cycleways, roads and rail should be planned together.
New suburbs and housing developments needed transport connections from the beginning, rather than leaving residents dependent on congested roads.
He also saw a potential role for passenger rail in moving crowds to major events at Te Kaha.
For him, the wider issue was Canterbury’s influence over transport investment.
He argued that the region’s contribution to national transport revenue was not adequately reflected in the funding it received.
NZ Transport Agency’s regional programme forecasts approximately $1.8 billion of investment in Canterbury during 2024–27, including $351 million for public transport.
Those totals do not, by themselves, settle the debate about whether Canterbury receives a fair share. That comparison requires consistent figures for regional contributions, funding sources and time periods.
Skipper said stronger cooperation between local MPs could help put the region’s priorities before the government.
A different approach to Parliament
Skipper recalled visiting Parliament at 19 through an aspiring leaders programme.
Initially impressed by entering the debating chamber, he said the language and behaviour he witnessed left him disappointed.
That experience helped shape his preference for practical debate over political confrontation.
“There’s a lot of nonsense in politics,” he said.
He argued that Opportunity could work with different parties on worthwhile proposals, particularly where public services needed long-term stability.
Healthcare workers and teachers, he said, should be able to rely on government support that survives an election.
He also supported limits on political donations, a lobbying register and more careful use of parliamentary urgency.
His promise was to listen to different communities, consider credible information and focus on decisions with lasting benefits.
Community relationships and environmental restoration
Skipper said Christchurch’s recovery offered examples of the value of involving mana whenua in decisions about the city.
He pointed to the visibility of local stories and design in public spaces, including Te Kaha and Margaret Mahy Playground.
He also highlighted community-led environmental restoration on Banks Peninsula.
His approach, he said, was to support local people already doing that work, including mana whenua, rather than overlook their knowledge and contribution.
Voters must enrol before voting begins
Skipper urged young people and other eligible voters to check their enrolment and attend local candidate meetings.
The Electoral Commission’s key dates are:
People not enrolled at any address by the deadline will not be eligible to vote in this election.
Skipper said participation mattered, but his message extended beyond election day: Canterbury’s elected representatives should work together to secure what the region needs.
Source: Webfit News interview with Eden Skipper; Opportunity Party candidate information and housing policy; NZ Transport Agency Canterbury investment programme; Electoral Commission.
