A city with many opportunities for growth

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 42

A city with many opportunities for growth

Christchurch is a ;changing city. Visual! changes can easily be appreciated; by anyone taking a stroll through the central commercial area. 1 |! j I I There is the ijmpressive; Parkroyal! bordering Vic-i toria Square; the I stylish, buildings with glass' cladd-l ings. and many pew structures which are viewed; ! with interest a$ they de-; jvelop towards their final 'designs. ( I I ; j - , Christchurch I has prob-; ably never experienced a . building (boom 1 like the l one of recent times which i happened! during suppos-, | edly hard times'. | ■ I . !

Christchurch claims to be New Zealand’s second largest! city (a claim which ( would be disputed by Wellingtonians), .and contains 40 per cent of the South; Island’s population. j. | ■ J Christchurch has had 'many ! ;New Zealand “firsts.’’ 'lt was here where the first New Zealand I Railway wheels turned oh a broad gauge track I between the city and I. Ferrymead . on December 1, 1863. The 125th (anniversary of the event I Will be celebrated during | Labour week-end in October. , i

More recently,' during the j 1960 s Christchurch had New Zealand’s first international jet services. As; well as the visual i changes to the ciiy, there ; are ; numerous changes . which are not so easily seen., • 1 . I ■ p During the 1980 s there has been a swing away i from) some of thte traditional ! industries, such! as manufacturing, towards ■i the finance and information sectors. | These areas have'seen considerable growth while i some of the more established industries .h'ave

'! I i' ! been struggling. Between 1980 and 1987; the num-ber-employed | in! service industries rose 140 per cent). ’ . P p I ! ■According to I Canterbury United! ) Council sources, this growth) js fuelled by three factors. Al requirement for sophisticated information to! operate modern I businesses and technology; deregulation o( the economy which has; removed a stability that must be ! replaced by lmonitoring of financial situations; and! further deregulation which has provided access! td international

money markets with lower interest (rates than domestic markets. These activities flow on into investment in buildings and services with firms in growth industries expanding their businesses, plant and machinery. I | Growth opportunities exist in high-tech (industries and the) long-term , development j of ) a wide range of tourisit facilities. The people; and the land form one (. of the region’s greatest assets. ! With more than 20 per cent of the country’s class one and class' two soils

being near Christchurch, there is a real potential for an expanded and j diversified agricultural in- , dustry. Many enterprising people have build on this ; potential, I j especially ( around | Christchurch ; where there is a ready local market as well as ) outlets for; exports. Specialised horticulture, | flower and herb produc-j tion, livestock, and vineyards and orchards have all been successfully developed ! near Christchurch. ; p ; Today’s rapid change

poses I challenges ' for everyone. (To assist witji these changes, the Canterbury United Council is preparing a Regional Development ! Strategy. It is not | intended to be an inflexible set of rules, to folldw, mt) rather a suggested iirection for the region ty take. I ( ! 11 l| ■) I '!-.:■ T I! I T rains tort is one activity which, will receive sorne ( attention. The Cantertiiry United Council believes that the maintenanci of efficient internal and | external transport systems are essential for ale ranging city. | ;