The Influencers: Paul Lonsdale

I cannot believe we are already in February with the Christmas rush and holiday now a distant memory. We are now fully launched into this new decade and I believe we, as a city and region, are ready to own it. The last 10 years were tough on our city and our […]

The Influencers: Marian Johnson

The second month of the year has almost gone and there is no better time than the present to make good on the resolutions you’ve made for yourself. Whether you’re thinking of launching your own startup, joining an ambitious new startup team, or really getting into the Christchurch and Canterbury innovation scene, […]

The Influencers: Joanna Norris

The start of 2020 has been dominated by global concern for the outbreak and spread of the new coronavirus. The situation is expected to have a significant impact on the economy. Christchurch and the South Island have a strong, warm and mutually valuable relationship with China and we hope for an early […]

The Influencers: John Bridgman

We recently completed the first quarter of Christchurch’s biggest jigsaw puzzle, which at first may not seem like a major achievement but it has 43,000 pieces! The façade on Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is a significant feat of architecture and engineering. Each of the fibre cement tiles is placed individually on […]

The Influencers: Lianne Dalziel

This weekend we mark the ninth anniversary of the devastating 22 February 2011 earthquake that claimed 185 lives and impacted on thousands more, changing our city forever. It will be a time for us to pause and reflect on the tragedy, to remember the people and places that we lost, and all […]

The Influencers: Leeann Watson

As this is my first Metropol column for 2020, I would like to wish you a happy – and prosperous – New Year.  It’s already shaping up to be an exciting year ahead. Two key milestones will be the opening of Te Pae Convention Center in October and the completion of the […]

The Influencers: Paul Lonsdale

There is a lot happening in our city and one of the key things that differentiates us from the suburban shopping centres, aside from our unique retail and hospitality offer, is our ability to activate the streets with events, festivals, buskers and street performances.   We are seeing new businesses opening every […]

The Influencers: Marian Johnson

It’s hard to say goodbye to that most wonderful of things – the Kiwi summer holiday. In between the pavs and beach cricket this year, it was hard to miss the horror of the human and ecological tragedy unfolding in Australia giving us all a window into the impact of climate change. […]

The Influencers: Joanna Norris

This year marks a watershed moment for our city, our place, Ōtautahi Christchurch. There are few years I’ve been more excited for than 2020.   We are emerging as the country’s premier urban destination, a basecamp for exploration and a hub of South Island adventure. Our rebuilt infrastructure is the envy of […]

The Influencers: John Bridgman

It’s not just the number of seats in the auditorium that the organisers of international conventions look at when selecting their next venue in a globally competitive sector. Transport, hospitality and quality of accommodation are also crucial in the decision-making process. So, it’s great for Christchurch that Ōtākaro recently secured a development […]