Veteran activist John Minto has today launched his campaign for the Christchurch mayoralty.
John Minto Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Mr Minto has vowed to abandon asset sales if he wins, saying the current council's plan to sell $600 million worth of them should be scrapped.
He said the plan was doomed to fail.
"This is a policy from the 1980s. It was a failed policy then and it risks failing the people of Christchurch in 2016.
"We've got alternatives that will be much more people freiendly and beneficial in the short term and the long term."
Mr Minto said he also wanted to bring in free public transport and build 1000 affordable council-owned rental homes or rent-to-buy houses within three years.