After 16 years supporting local residents through legal challenges, Chris Ellis has announced his candidacy for Porirua City Council, standing for the Onepoto Ward in the upcoming election.
Ellis, a long-time senior lawyer with the Porirua Community Law Centre, says his decision to run stems from a desire to serve the community in a new way, this time through governance rather than advocacy.
“Many of the people I worked with were seeing a lawyer for the first time and expected immediate answers,” said Ellis. “But the reality is that lives, facts, and the law combine to create complex situations. You have to ask the right questions before you can understand the real issue, and that’s something I believe City Council needs to do more of.”
Known for his methodical approach and deep community ties, Ellis says councils are crucial to the everyday lives of residents, particularly in areas like infrastructure, water, and building consents. He praised current councillors as dedicated and responsive, but voiced concern over the growing pressure from central government reforms.
“Councils are being left to implement decisions made in Wellington, especially in housing, health, and infrastructure, and that’s shifting the cost burden onto local ratepayers,” he said. “We need to focus on core services and do them well, our parks, libraries, pools, and sports fields matter to people.”
Ellis believes the key challenge for Porirua’s next council will be keeping up with fast-moving legislative changes while maintaining essential services.
“It’s vital that we stay informed, ask good questions, and push back when necessary to protect our city’s wellbeing,” he said.
The Onepoto Ward seat will be contested as part of Porirua’s next local government election. Ellis says his legal background, combined with a deep understanding of the city’s challenges, will help bring a constructive, analytical voice to the council table.