Category: Christchurch Updates

Hamilton continues to have one of the country’s best performing economies, with GDP surging past the $13 billion mark for the first time. Hamilton City Council has published its 2022 Annual Economic Report, giving an unrivalled insight into Hamilton’s economy, development and people during the 2022 calendar year. Hamilton’s economy performs strongly despite challenging headwinds…

This Sunday, 4 June, Wellington and Christchurch will join over 300 cities worldwide in observing the National Animal Rights Day. The events remember the billions of animals who lose their lives each year due to human actions, and acknowledge the advancements made to end the suffering of animals. All are welcome to participate. SAFE CEO…

Property values across Aotearoa NZ continued to fall in May, down 0.7%, but the annual rate of change has eased, providing tentative evidence the current downturn is winding up. Nationally, average values are 10.2% lower than the same month last year and $121,000 below their peak, but still $194,000 higher than the pre-COVID level (March…

Just six districts across New Zealand are still showing positive home value growth annually. Half of them are in Canterbury. With May’s figures yet to be finalised, the QV House Price Index for April showed home values had fallen by an average of 13.3% nationally over the past 12 months. Across the wider Canterbury region,…

Kia ora koutou, …ko Sara Campbell tenei, I’m speaking today on behalf of Extinction Rebellion Otautahi, Council behaviour and the behaviour of council owned companies As we cannot make good decisions without a good understanding of the facts. I’ll start with a few facts about the climate and biodiversity crisis. The last eight years have…

Christchurch Airport has signed up to buy the world’s first Rosenbauer Electric Fire Truck to operate at an airport. A newly signed contract means the airport and Austrian manufacturer Rosenbauer International AG will together bring the ‘green’ truck down under. Head of Aviation Operations Tim Morris says it’s another step towards Christchurch Airport having an…

Fire and Emergency New Zealand volunteers and staff from Tikokino, Mapua, Blenheim, Porirua, Ngāruawāhia and Omarama were presented with their Royal Honours by Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro at Government House in Wellington today. “These six worthy recipients have dedicated years to helping their communities become stronger, safer, and more resilient both through their roles…

The Government is continuing to support retailers with additional funding for the highly popular Fog Cannon Subsidy Scheme, Police and Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today. “The Government is committed to improving retailers’ safety,” Ginny Andersen said. “I’ve seen first-hand the difference fog cannons are making. Not only do they help prevent crime, but…

Seven hundred graduates from throughout Aotearoa New Zealand received their diplomas and degrees from the Open Polytechnic | Te PÅ«kenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, either at graduation ceremonies in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, or in absentia, in May 2023. Three graduate speakers (one at each ceremony) provided inspirational messages of how…

Seeing things that aren’t there – Canterbury researcher awarded funding to investigate hallucinations in people with Parkinson’s disease Dr Kyla-Louise Horne was just 16-years-old when her grandma, who had Parkinson’s disease, passed away. Now, 16 years later, she’s dedicating her research to improving the lives of those who suffer from the debilitating brain disorder, for…

Wolfbrook Property Group is proud to announce its partnership with Venues Ōtautahi as the naming rights partner of Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch. “Wolfbrook Arena entertains thousands of people every year and has become an iconic venue for the South Island so we couldn’t be happier to partner with Venues Ōtautahi as the naming rights partner…

Striking differences in the way high school students socialise may be one of the reasons behind a dramatic drop in youth drinking over the last 20 years, a study from the University of Otago, Wellington, has found. Public health researcher Dr Jude Ball has compared attitudes to drinking among high school students in 1999-2001 to…

Will Jordan has become the latest All Black to re-sign with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle. The 25-year-old from Christchurch has also recommitted to the Crusaders in DHL Super Rugby Pacific and will continue to be aligned with Tasman in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC. Jordan is…

DoorDash celebrates one year in New Zealand with limited edition burger deal Grab a $0 burger- from some of New Zealand’s top restaurants only until 4th June! DoorDash has officially been in New Zealand for one year, and to celebrate they are sharing the love with $0 burgers- in Wellington and Christchurch. From today until…

Quotable Value’s latest figures show home values have fallen further on average at the bottom of the property ladder than at the top. The QV Quartile Index tracks the value movements of the 25% most and least expensive houses across the country’s main urban centres. It shows values in the lower quartile have fallen by…

Health Minister Ayesha Verrall has opened two new state-of-the-art mental health facilities at the Christchurch Hillmorton Hospital campus, as the Government ramps up its efforts to build a modern fit for purpose mental health system. The buildings, costing $81.8 million, are one of 16 capital projects the Government has funded from the $836.1 million mental…

Direct flights between Christchurch and Singapore have taken South Islanders across the world for almost 40 years now, and this summer there will be even more flights available. Singapore Airlines has announced an extra 40 flights three times a week from November 19, as well as the daily year-round service. General Manager of Aeronautical Development,…

The New Zealand Automobile Association is marking its 120th anniversary today reflecting on some memorable Member moments. AA Chief Executive Nadine Tereora says, “We’ve had no shortage of variety to look back on!” The Association first began on May 26 in 1903 when Dr George Thomas Humphrey de Clive Lowe along with a small group…

Kia orana, Talofa lava, Mālo e lelei, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Noa’ia e mauri, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia ora, Tena Koutou Katoa. Labour Party President Jill Day, Prime Minister Hipkins, Party faithful, delegates and comrades, whānau and friends, it’s a privilege to be here today. I begin my speech with an acknowledgement of…

Stuff’s national, metropolitan and regional journalism has been recognised among the best in New Zealand with 23 prizes at this year’s 2023 Voyager Media Awards. The awards celebrate excellence in New Zealand journalism across print, broadcast and digital, recognising and rewarding the best in the craft. Stuff’s popular mobile app, which is used by hundreds…

Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s MEETINGS national trade exhibition on 21 and 22 June will welcome back international buyers with a raft of new business, networking and knowledge opportunities. MEETINGS will be held for the first time in New Zealand’s capital Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, and it will be the first large exhibition event to take place…

Budget-23 funding a win for social and community housing – now let’s use it and keep going, together Community Housing Aotearoa CEO Paul Gilberd welcomed over 500 attendees at the opening of the 3-day CHA Conference Making the shift from crisis to transformational change, in Ōtautahi Christchurch today. “We care enough to tackle deep social…

Central Districts Cricket won’t be the same without Nigel Brooke. The CD Community Cricket Manager is one of CD’s longest serving staff – and will leave enormous shoes to fill as he heads toward retirement. Born in ManawatÅ« and now based in Levin, “Brooky” has a vast and intrinsic knowledge of Central Districts Cricket and…

A record 24 sacks of wine bottle lids from Hurunui recyclers have gone to assist Canterbury kidney-failure patients and their families over the 2022-2023 year. Hurunui District Council supports the Amberley Lions Club by collecting aluminium wine bottle lids at Hurunui transfer stations, which are picked up by the Lions Club and sold for metal…

Eighty-nine households will soon benefit from secure, renewable, and more affordable energy as five community-level energy projects are about to get underway, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods announced today.  Five solar projects – in Whangārei, Tauranga, Palmerston North and Christchurch – are the first to receive funding from the government’s Community Renewable Energy Fund….

Kinetic Group is pleased to confirm that its NZ operating units Go Bus Transport and NZ Bus are projecting a return to full driver staffing levels in all main centres over the coming weeks. The two companies, who have delivered urban transport routes across six of New Zealand major cities for nearly three decades, had…

Entries opened this week for the New Zealand Beer Awards, New Zealand’s most prestigious beer competition. In its 17th year, the New Zealand Beer Awards, managed by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand, recognises excellence in beer as well as other accolades across New Zealand’s brewing industry. The competition is open to commercial brewers of…

The Government is partnering with New Zealand Steel to deliver New Zealand’s largest emissions reduction project to date, with half of the coal being used at Glenbrook steel to be replaced with electricity to recycle scrap steel. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins made the announcement alongside Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods and Climate Change Minister…

– Catherine Drayton appointed independent non-executive director – Wendy Lai resigns as independent non-executive director IAG New Zealand Limited today announces the appointment of Catherine Drayton as non-executive director to the Board. IAG New Zealand Board Chair Simon Allen says, “We are extremely pleased to have someone of Catherine’s calibre join us. The depth of…

North Christchurch resident, Rohiyyeh Faramarzi, says a global campaign being launched in June to support gender equality in Iran serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities suffered by women at the hands of the Iranian authorities. Mrs Faramarzi left Iran as a refugee in 1980. The campaign honours the 40-year anniversary of the execution…