The Influencers Column: Albert Brantley
You may notice a change in the Christchurch skyline this month with the first of the steel trusses being placed to support the roof of the Convention Centre. These first trusses span 50 metres and sit over the 1400-person auditorium. They give you the first real opportunity to gain some appreciation of the […]
The Influencers Column: Nathan Godfrey
I’m often asked about the new stadium and, although this is a complex subject, my answer is simple. Time is money. We are grateful for the temporary stadium and what it once represented, but extending its life is a growing concern. Another is the escalating cost of delaying construction of a replacement home […]
The Influencers Column: Dr Megan Woods
For seven years, a generation of young Cantabrians has had to make do without important sporting facilities. These were meant to be provided by early 2016 in the Metro Sports Facility, a proposed world class sporting facility. When this Government came to office, all this had come to was an empty lot. Beset […]
The Influencers Column: Tim Nees
For the past two years I have been Branch Chair of the NZ Institute of Architects here in Canterbury, leading the committee through a number of programmes and events that have increased public awareness of the practice of architecture. Last week I stepped aside for a new Chair – Mike Callaghan – to […]
The Influencers Column: Ivan Iafeta
For the past 14 months, identifying and assessing potential land uses in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor has been a significant part of Regenerate Christchurch’s work to develop a regeneration plan for the area. The transformational opportunity it represents, as well as the local and national benefits, cannot be underestimated and it has […]
The Influencers Column: Leeann Watson
Two years since the Health and Safety legislation changed, what have we achieved? In short, quite a lot! In 2012 the Government set a target of a 25 percent reduction in work related deaths and injuries by 2020. According to Statistics NZ, deaths and serious non-fatal injuries are both below the target set […]
The Influencers Column: Dr Megan Woods
As we head in to the 8th year since the earthquakes, Canterbury has so much to be proud of. Hundreds of thousands of homes have been repaired, large swaths of our city have been rebuilt and some truly amazing new public spaces have been created. For most people, the trauma of the earthquakes […]
The Influencers Column: Garth Wynne
Men’s behaviour towards women is, quite rightly, under scrutiny. The message is clear. Men need to understand respect. Having worked in schools for 35 years, I am convinced the key challenge we face is to help our young men grow emotional confidence. Emotional confidence – and associated self-awareness and empathy – is a […]
The Influencers Column: Mark Hamilton
If you own, manage or occupy a building that’s a workplace, you should be up to speed with some regulations that will affect you. On Wednesday 4 April, 2018, important sections of the Health & Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations came in to force. There has been a two-year grace period to get […]
The Influencers Column: Albert Brantley
The success of the recent Lantern Festival has given Christchurch the first real taste of what a spectacular stage Te Papa Ōtākaro/Avon River Precinct can be for this city. Thousands of people made their way along parts of the riverside promenade to find a vantage point on the steps of the Terraces or […]









