The mayoral candidate for Christchurch, Jim Anderton has accused the current mayor of the city, Bob Parker of avoiding the local body election debates because of his own political reasons. Mr. Parker is seeking the re-election but stopped the election campaign by saying he is too busy with his works mainly for the earthquake recovery of Canterbury.

Mr. Anderton who is the MP for Wigram became frustrated as the mayor refused to face him in debates. On the other hand Mr. Parker made his defence by saying the candidates had a lot of time before the earthquake and the voter had also plenty of time and opportunity to hear from the candidates.

He has also said the current mayor is taking so much advantage of the earthquake by appearing numerous times on the television and news channels over the earthquake issue.

He says the mayor had a democratic responsibility to tell about his future plans about the city to the people of the city. Meanwhile the mayoral candidate Mr. Anderton is carrying on his public debates in Waimakiriri, which was hit hard by the earthquake.