Earthquake destroying Anderton's chances - Parker expected to win Christchurch according to polls...

Image via WikipediaEarthquake destroying Anderton's chances  - Parker expected to win Christchurch according to polls...

Christchurch's current Mayor, Bob Parker. Photo / Greg BowkerIncumbent Bob Parker is way ahead of rival Jim Anderton in the race for the Christchurch city mayoralty, according to a poll issued today.



The UMR Research poll, the first public poll on the Christchurch mayoral contest since the region was hit by a 7.1 earthquake on September 4, shows that Mr Parker leads Mr Anderton, Progressive party MP for Wigram, by 55 per cent to 41 per cent among decided voters.



The last poll, in June, showed Mr Parker trailing Mr Anderton by 32 per cent (Parker 28 per cent, Anderton 60 per cent).



Christchurch city residents also believed that the rebuilding process in the city was being handled effectively, the poll showed.



Eighty-eight per cent believed that Mr Parker had handled the aftermath of the earthquake well.



Large majorities also thought that Civil Defence (94 per cent), the city council (90 per cent), EQC (88 per cent) and insurance companies had handled the aftermath well.



Fifty-six per cent of Christchurch city residents thought that people who did not have insurance should not be compensated for damage to their houses from the earthquake.



Results were based upon an online survey of a representative sample of 361 Christchurch city residents, conducted by UMR Research. The survey team was in the field from September 21-27, and the survey was paid for by UMR Research, and was not commissioned by any of the candidates or any other third party.



Acknowledgements:  - NZPA

Flurry of late voting in Auckland Super city race...

Image via WikipediaFlurry of late voting in Auckland Super city race...






Brown ahead in Super City mayoral contest October 03, 2010 -  interesting finale.




There has been a flurry of last minute interest from Aucklanders in the battle to lead the new Super City.



Votes returned so far are up nearly 5% from the last election, with numbers expected to increase as Saturday's deadline approaches.



The electoral headquarters has seen a recent torrent of votes in the first definitive sign that Aucklanders care about who will be at the helm of New Zealand's first Super City.



The numbers have impressed electoral office director Dale Ofsoske, who now has high hopes for an even greater turnout.



"This time three years ago in the voting period we were at 22%, so we're about five percentage points up which is good.



"I think we'll achieve between a 45 and 50% turnout which I'm pleased with," he said.



The high turnout is adding further fuel to the tight may oral race, with the latest polls putting Manukau's Len Brown well ahead of main rival John Banks.



However, in spite of the early results Prime Minister John Key is standing behind Banks, telling TVNZ's Breakfast show that he still has what it takes.



"They poll on people who don't show up. It's also one of the reasons why the Greens always poll well.



"John Banks can win it, he can definitely win it."





Close mayoral races are also expected in the main South Island centres.



Voting numbers are so far up by 4.5% in Dunedin, with incumbent mayor Peter Chin and city councillor Dave Cull locked in a two-horse race, and the fight between Bob Parker and Jim Anderton has seen voting in Christchurch rise by nearly 5%.