John Robson thanked two councillors at his swearing in today, crediting their positons on the Long Term Plan with motivating him to return to local body politics.

John, who is a previous city councillor, won the by-election for former city councillor Gail McIntosh's seat. She died in January this year.

The councillors he thanked are Max Mason and Kelvin Clout.

'So thank you gentlemen, and I look forward to working with you over the next eight weeks to bring real change to that Long Term Plan,” says John.

He's been looking back at fellow councillors previous election promises and is pleased that Max wants strong financial discipline.

'I'm sure Max hasn't forgotten that promise. I'm pleased that Kelvin wants something similar. Proud as he is of the previous term where we kept rates rises capped, got debt down and increased spending on essential infrastructure.

'It would be nice to repeat that Kelvin, if your aspirations for mayor are to be fulfilled,” he said during his swearing in today.

John also thanked Steve Morris and Rick Curach, two councillors who endorsed John's campaign.

'Putting your head above the parapet in a situation like this is not easy. I know you took some shots and I thank you for that,” says John.

He criticised the council's communication with ratepayers through the museum referendum and the consultation document – not because of the content of the documents, but because of what wasn't in them.

'I'm passionate about giving the community the information it needs to make informed choices.

'I think it behoves us to make sure that what we put in front of the community is true but also wholly true.

'We mustn't be tempted whatever our motivation, whatever our beliefs, to use partial information to achieve what we might believe to be a just end.

'I want to see our LTP changed. I want to see our communication with the community improved. I want to get out of this suit and start work.”

Work for John started at 1pm at the City Transformation Committee meeting.