Anderton announced in May 2010 that he would contest the Christchurch mayoralty . He initially said that if elected to the mayoralty he would not give up his seat in Parliament because he did n't want to cause an expensive by-election . However , following the 2010 Canterbury earthquake Anderton announced he would stand down as MP for Wigram if elected mayor so he could fully focus on rebuilding the city . Anderton was leading the polls until the earthquake hit . He lost the election , taking 40.6 % of the vote to incumbent mayor Bob Parker 's 53.7 % of the vote , with the rest of the vote split amongst numerous minor candidates
2010 Canterbury earthquake
2010 Canterbury earthquake
Jim Anderton