The Star: June 30, 2016

8 Thursday June 30 2016
follow us on facebook.com/riseupchristchurch
ews
Mon-Fri
Clients
allegedly
assaulted
• By Kurt Bayer
A CHRISTCHURCH
professional man appeared
in the district court yesterday
on charges that he indecently
assaulted clients.
The 61-year-old pleaded
not guilty to three charges of
indecently assaulting three male
clients.
He appeared in the dock in
a grey suit, brown shoes, and
maroon tie.
Defence counsel Paul Wicks
QC said the man elected a trial
by jury.
He applied for interim name
suppression, including details of
his occupation, on the grounds
of potential extreme hardship.
Judge Tom Gilbert granted
interim name suppression on
the grounds of potential extreme
hardship.
However, he stressed that
name suppression would have to
be argued “properly and fully” at
the next hearing.
He remanded the man on bail,
with conditions, to a case review
hearing on September 5.
CHRISTCHURCH can
now start selling itself as a
destination for the lucrative
conference circuit.
That’s the step forward for
Christchurch and Canterbury
Tourism on the back of yesterday’s
announcement that initial
work on the Convention Centre
will start next month.
The Government said yesterday
the Convention Centre,
which is to be built on the two
blocks between Cathedral and
Victoria Squares, would be complete
by the end of 2019.
But original plans to build hotels,
shops, apartments and office
spaces on the site have been
scrapped, and the Government
would only build the centre.
Christchurch and Canterbury
Tourism chief
executive Vic Allen
(left) said it was
thrilled with the
news.
He said it now
had a timeline and
could begin booking international
conferences.
“There’s been some uncertainty
around when the new
facility will be ready but now
we have that certainty, so now
we can ramp-up our conference
marketing activity again.”
The Government was forced
to scale back plans for the project
after ending its partnership
with Plenary Conventions New
Zealand, made up of Ngai Tahu
Property, Carter Group and
Plenary Group.
It would now only build the
Convention Centre itself, but
the remainder of the site would
be open to private investors for
Canterbury’s weather updates
with Mercy Cornish
bulletins: 5.30pm, repeats at 7pm and 9.30pm
Freeview 40 | Live and on demand at ctv.co.nz | facebook.com/canterburytv
Convention Centre on way
NEW DESIGNS: The Convention Centre will not include hotels,
apartments, shops and office spaces, after its partnership with
Plenary Conventions New Zealand ended.
commercial development.
Mr Allen said a number of
potential investors in tourism
infrastructure had stated they
were interested in investing in
Christchurch.
The Convention Centre would
have a 1400 delegate auditorium,
an exhibition hall and meeting
rooms.
But Labour MP Megan
Woods said without the hotels,
shops, apartments and office
spaces that the partnership
The Star
promised, private investment in
the central city was now up in
the air.
“Instead, we are left with a
‘build it and they will come’ approach
where taxpayers will foot
the whole bill for the Convention
Centre, with no certainty
that private investment will
follow.”
Crown-owned company
Otakaro, which is tasked with
delivering the city’s anchor
projects, will now finalise the
design and begin engagement
with potential contractors next
month.
Work to re-route the underground
services would also
begin next month, and the
section of Gloucester St between
Colombo at and Oxford Tce
would be closed.
It is hoped earthworks would
begin in October.
Otakaro would not say how
much the centre would cost.
The Convention Centre was
first announced as an anchor
project in mid-2012, with the
original completion date scheduled
for the end of next year.
•Big ticket items page 11
•Editorial page 12
THE HOME OF GOOD BAKING
PREMIUM
BREAD
White, wholemeal, grain & honey.
3 FOR
$
5 00
FUDGE SLICE
A scrumptious
Fudge Slice that
the kids will
rave about - an
old style Kiwi
favourite.
$
3 49
EA
FREE
TUMBLER
WITH EVERY $ 10 .00 PURCHASE
INCLUDING A 600ml* COCA-COLA!
RASPBERRY
BUNS 4pk
Sweet bun
dough infused
with raspberry
preserve and
finished off with
a light raspberry
icing.
$
3 49
While stocks last. T’s & C’s apply.
MILK
Dairy Dale 2L varieties.
$
5 98
2 FOR or $3.19 each
FROZEN MEALS $
3 49
Assorted flavours.
EA
Promotional pricing available while stocks last from 27/06/16 to 03/07/16. Images are serving suggestions only.
Strictly while stocks last. Terms & conditions apply. *Range includes; Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta & L&P.
Open 7 days | 8 Convenient local locations
Hornby • Barrington • Ferry Rd • Papanui • Riccarton • Upper Riccarton • New Brighton • Rangiora
BAKERIES
www.couplands.co.nz