by Metropol | September 30, 2026 8:33 am
One of the things I love about Christchurch is that we’re a city that looks outward. This year we welcomed visitors from 18 countries for the start of another Antarctic season, and it was a great reminder of the important role our city plays on the world stage.
As an Antarctic Gateway city, Christchurch has connections that reach far beyond New Zealand. Every year, scientists, engineers, logistics teams and support staff come here before heading south. They bring their expertise, ideas and experience, and our city benefits from those relationships.
This year was particularly important because we celebrated 40 years of Italian Antarctic science. That’s a partnership that has stood the test of time and demonstrates how international relationships create lasting benefits for communities.
At the end of the day, being an international city isn’t just about airports and connections; it’s about people. It’s about building relationships, sharing knowledge and ideas, and creating partnerships and opportunities.
We’ve seen these benefits through our Antarctic links, but also through education, tourism, technology, and business. These connections help attract investment, support jobs and strengthen Christchurch’s reputation around the world.
As Christchurch grows, we are focused on building relationships and creating new opportunities.
The city is also visiting India in the coming weeks to support trade and business connections. It’s about opening doors for Christchurch and making sure our city remains connected, ambitious and ready for the future.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/global-connections-mayor-phil-mauger/
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