Mr Peter Skellerup quits local politics

Press, 30 August 1986, Page 8

Mr Peter Skellerup quits local politics

After almost 30 years in local government, Mr Peter Skellerup, a former Deputy Mayor of Christchurch, has decided to retire.

Mr Skellerup served on the Christchurch City Council from 1958 until 1980 without a break — in his last six years as Deputy Mayor.

He has been on the Lyttelton Harbour Board since 1974.

Mr Skellerup said this week he had decided that now was the time to concentrate on other things. He had enjoyed his early days in local government on the City Council, and especially his time as Deputy Mayor. “I think the thing is you meet a lot of wonderful people,” he said.

In his 15 years as parks and recreation committee chairman he had no roller-coasters or wetbikes to deal with, but had to deal with controversy

about a road through Hagley Park.

“I think one of my major achievements was to keep it out,” he said. Mr Skellerup said he first became involved in politics in the city because he wanted to give something back. His family had business associations with the city.

"When I first became involved, it was all volunteer work. You did not get paid. I enjoyed it more then. Now there’s a feeling of ‘what do I get out of it?’ for a lot of people,” he said.

Mr Skellerup said he had plenty of things, work included, to keep him busy. He was confident of the younger candidates coming up in local government