June 1, 2016 2:00pm by David Farrar

Swiggs stands for Council

Rebuild Christchurch founder Deon Swiggs will stand for council in the upcoming local body elections, as an independent candidate.

The 28-year-old said he would contest the newly-created central Christchurch ward.

In 2013, he sought the Labour Party nomination in the Christchurch East by-election, triggered by former Labour MP Lianne Dalziel seeking the city’s mayoralty.

Swiggs has been a Labour supporter since he was 15, but had chosen not to stand for the Labour-aligned People’s Choice group.

“This is about the city. . . not a group so if people elect me then I’m going to represent that ward.

“I don’t want it to be a case of ‘us’ and ‘them’,” he said.

I’ve met Deon a couple of times. He’s done a lot for Christchurch and I think he would be a good Councillor.