$15,000 boost seeded to start promotion

Press, 29 August 1989, Page 9

$15,000 boost seeded to start promotion

By

KAY FORRESTER

The Christchurch promotion working party needs : $15,000 to make an immediate start on implementing the 1 Christchurch Initiative 2000 plan. I

The Christchurch City Council’s property and promotion committee yesterday recommended a further grant of $15,000 to the working party beyond the $202,000 already given ' in this year’s budget. The plan was unveiled about a month ago as a marketing strategy for the city.

The promotion director, Miss Gillian Wess, reported yesterday that $55,000 would be needed to run a city image development campaign, market research on target audiences to define that image, and to create a city logo and slogan. The party had $40,000 available and sought the deficit to begin work immediately.

The money would come from a sum allocated for miscellaneous grants in the budget. If the work begins now, results of the research are expected by December with a logo and slogan ready for launching by February.

The party also wants a news agency supplying stories about Christchurch to publications outside the city debated by the new City Council. Miss Wess said news stories could be used to promote Christchurch. An agency would be able to do that in a way newspapers could not. The party also wants to discuss promotion of the Antarctic continent to plan a promotion for next year.

Cr Ron Wright warned about the need to take care with tourist flights to the Antarctic. Cr David Close sought protection for the fragile environment.

A hallmark event for the city is also part of the plan. Miss Wess leaves for California soon to glean ideas from an international festival conference.

Cr Dennis Rich questioned what returns were expected from this trip. He was told the money for it was coming from the working party budget

already approved by the council. Auckland office The South Island Promotion Association is moving closer to opening an Auckland office. Mr Denis Gilmour, of the association, reported that two sites were under consideration in Queen Street. Book supported A 50-page colour book about Christchurch received $2OOO from the committee. The book was suggested by the corporate research officer, Mr Bill Williams. It would be a quality presentation covering all aspects of the city. A print run of 3000 copies was suggested by Mr Williams. The publication date would be late 1990 to allow a full set of seasonal photographs to be taken. Town crier

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