Our crown jewels.

We’re blessed in Christchurch to have some fabulous heritage buildings in the heart of our city centre.

They need to be protected and looked after because they help tell the story of Ōtautahi Christchurch and its people. Since the earthquakes, we have carried out a massive programme of repairs and restorations, but there are still some high profile and beloved heritage buildings needing work.

I am delighted that as part of the Long Term Plan, the council approved a new heritage targeted rate that will be used to help fund restoration work on several buildings, including the Canterbury Provincial Council buildings, the Old Municipal Chambers and the Robert McDougall Art Gallery.

Work has already started on the restoration of the Old Municipal Chambers, which is why the building is currently shrouded in white plastic. I can’t wait to see the transformation when it finally emerges from its cocoon next year.

As part of the Long Term Plan the Council also approved a new targeted rate that will be used to pay for a $5.5 million capital grant to help complete the current restoration work at the Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora.

The Arts Centre has long been a hub for arts, culture and creativity in Christchurch and a real jewel in the city’s crown.

Bring on the visitors.

With the distinctive flowing lines of its tile façade, the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, which is emerging in our city centre, is an impressive sight.

It’s a large facility, with 28,000sqm of useable floor space, although it will eventually have some sizeable neighbours with up to four taller hotels planned for the precinct area on the southern side.

Physical work has yet to start on those hotels so in the meantime we are landscaping that space to make it an attractive area for locals.

Much of the talk about Te Pae Christchurch centres on the economic benefits that it will provide to our city and region. The 74 events currently confirmed for the venue will provide about $43 million of direct economic gain. Business event travellers typically spend twice as much as leisure tourists, so it will be great for local hotels, restaurants, bars and shops.

Pre-quake, Christchurch hosted more than 20 percent of national business events. Our new facility seems to be putting the city back on the map, with a number of national events coming to Te Pae Christchurch and other local venues.

Te Pae Christchurch will also be a great facility for Cantabrians. Those 74 confirmed events are likely to attract about 120,000 visitors through the doors. Interestingly, about 20,000 of those will be conference attendees, with the remainder coming to other events. One expo alone is likely to attract 10,000 visitors.

A healthy move.

If you happen to be wandering around Te Papa Hauora, you will notice intense construction activity in the Health Precinct.

A five-floor 1600m2 building is well underway at 12 Oxford Terrace. This is planned for office and service provision and due for completion later this year. At the other end of the Precinct, early site work has begun at 38-44 Oxford Terrace.

This building is designed for clinical provision and support and is likely to be a three build programme. It is a major construction comprising 11000m2 over eight floors and will make a bold statement on the eastern Precinct boundary.

In mid-June, the University of Otago gave its final approval to the construction of a $178 million project in the heart of the Te Papa Hauora Christchurch Health Precinct. This is the biggest single construction ever undertaken by the University and will be the new home for 500 staff and more than 1000 students.

The Christchurch campus is a training base for medical students, as well as a research-intensive campus. Planning is well advanced, and the building is expected to open in 2025. These three new builds will add significantly to an already well established Health Precinct. Exciting times for Christchurch city.

Taking a stand.

We are lucky that our students have an outward looking view, strong convictions and stand for what they believe in.

Mike King, founder of The Key to Life Charitable Trust, recently provided a clear and definitive example of this philosophy to us all when he made the decision to surrender his membership of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Mike King has been campaigning for a number of years for better access to mental health care for our children and teenagers and in 2019 was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and named as New Zealander of the Year for his work within this area.
Due to his belief that the situation in New Zealand has not improved, he felt the honour no longer sat comfortably with him and so would return his medal.

I have both admiration and a feeling of sadness for Mike. I admire his strong conviction, and for staying true to who he is and what he believes in. I am equally sad that as a country we have not enabled the necessary change to happen that is so badly needed for our youth, and therefore, subsequently led to a ‘champion’ like Mike feeling the need to return his medal.

Strong convictions, outward focused view, standing for what you believe in.  A great lesson for our students at Cathedral Grammar.