Colourful anti-high rise campaigner Jill Parry has pulled out of the contest to become Tauranga's mayor.
Jill, founder of the Sandy Walkers group which opposes high rise developments near beaches, says she has opted out for personal reasons.

Jill Parry is withdrawing from the 2010 mayoral race.

I am not going to say exactly why I am withdrawing, but it is definitely not for political reasons. I think it's best just to say that it's due to a sudden change in my personal circumstances.
"I am disappointed because I was looking forward to all the debate and hopefully getting the council to listen to some commonsense."
Jill accuses council planners of making surreptitious changes to the draft district plan which would considerably increase the number of high rise buildings allowed on premium waterfront land at Mount Maunganui and Papamoa. She says the way in which planning changes have been 'slipped through' is scandalous, but few members of the public have the expert knowledge to understand those changes - or the time and energy to attend endless meetings and trawl through massive documents generated by the draft planning process.
"What I am calling for is the absolute prohibition at the Mount of any building over three storeys in the high residential zone which runs from Adams Avenue to Banks Avenue. Beach to beach high rises will destroy the landscape. Relatively few people appreciate the fact that the Mount, which is a rare natural feature, is a world-class tourist attraction.
Quitting the mayoral race doesn't mean she will stop campaigning against high rises, says Jill.
"Hopefully the baton will be picked up by mayoral candidate John Robson who has a really good understanding of the issues."