Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton has signalled he will run for mayor of Christchurch in October's local government elections.
The Wigram MP says the current council, led by Bob Parker, has made poor decisions and refuses to listen.
He criticised the council for bailing out property developer Dave Henderson to the tune of $17 million and buying the Ellerslie Flower Show for $3 million, saying those decisions were made in secret, at the expense of social services.
But Mr Parker, who is standing again, says a vote for Mr Anderton would be a vote for returning to the past.
Taking a swipe at Mr Anderton's age, Mr Parker says the mayoralty is not a retirement sinecure and voters will have a clear choice between the past and the future.
Mr Anderton, 72, is a former deputy prime minister and was a senior Cabinet minister in the last Labour-led government.
