The Star: July 26, 2018

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Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday July 26 2018
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Fire rages, homes at risk
Former police kiosk’s future uncertain
• By Bridget Rutherford
THE POLICE kiosk in Cathedral
Square could be removed after
being left out of plans for the area.
The police kiosk, which was
established in 1986 to increase
the sense of security, has not been
included in Regenerate Christchurch’s
long-term vision for the
Square.
The $60-$80 vision released last
month included three interconnected
spaces; Post Office Place,
Library Plaza and Cathedral
Gardens.
It included the option of three
covered pavilions with a “latticestyle”
translucent roof, which in
designs sits on the site where the
kiosk currently was.
Regenerate Christchurch chief
executive Ivan Iafeta said it had
not made any specific allowances
for the kiosk.
“Regardless of whether, or
where, the pavilions will be included
in the future of the Square,
we believe the space where the
kiosk currently sits could provide
greater benefit in the future as
a community space with uninterrupted
access to the Christ
Church Cathedral.”
Canterbury Metro Commander
Superintendent Lane Todd said
police vacated the kiosk about a
year ago when the lease with the
city council expired.
“With police moving the central
station to Te Omeka, the kiosk was
surplus to police requirements.”
The city council is exploring
ways to use the building.
Spokesman John Filsell said the
kiosk had been used for a number
of events and uses since police
vacated the building, including
storage, a space for lost children
and a communications centre.
It had also been used for the
Christhurch Marathon, Le Race,
and the Kids Festival parade on
the weekend.
UNCERTAIN: The former police kiosk has not been
included in Regenerate Christchurch’s vision for
Cathedral Square.
Centenary celebrations for Smiths City
From auctioning off
livestock to selling
electronics and
furniture, Smiths City
has come a long way in
its 100 years.
Bridget Rutherford
looks back on the
Christchurch-based
company’s history
FEW BUSINESSES could say
they have been around for 100
years, especially after they had
been placed in receivership.
But Smiths City can.
The Christchurch-based company,
which has 37 stores and
more than 500 employees nationwide,
is celebrating a century
in business.
Founded by Henry Cooper
Smith in 1918, it started trading
as City Market, initially auctioning
off grain, livestock and
general goods.
Mr Smith bought the former
Ward & Company City Brewery
site at 550 Colombo St to start
operating the business.
Gradually, it expanded its
product range to include new
and used hardware and furniture.
After originally leasing some
saleyards on St Asaph St, it built
a horse sale ring building on the
Colombo St site in 1933.
In 1938, Smiths City Market
Ltd was registered as a private
company, while in 1953, Smiths
City Market Finance Ltd was
registered and started business.
The Colombo St store started
to expand in the early 1960s
when Smiths City Market bought
the Sucklings Shoes cafeteria
buildings and another block of
shops to expand the store frontage.
Smiths City Market Ltd was
floated as a public company in
1972.
Come 1988, the group turned
into two chains; Smiths City Ltd
and Smiths DIY Ltd.
Smiths City Ltd was to sell
BEGINNING: The business started off as an auction house named City Market.
HISTORY: The builders’ showroom at Smiths City’s
Colombo St store in 1973.
homewares, while Smiths DIY
Ltd was for selling builders’
supplies and sports goods. But
trading become difficult, and a
number of North Island stores
were sold.
A new board of directors was
appointed, and the Smith family
connection to the board ended.
In 1991, the company was
placed in receivership, and a new
trading company, Smiths City
(Southern) Ltd was formed to
operate the stores in the South
Island.
The South Island arm was
released from receivership in
1993.
The following year Smiths City
Group Ltd was released, making
it the first publicly-listed company
in the country to recover
from receivership.
When the February 22, 2011,
earthquake struck, several of
Smiths City’s Christchurch
buildings were damaged to
varying degrees and closed.
One of those was the Colombo
St store, which also housed
the administration offices. The
company committed to rebuilding
it, and the store reopened in
November 2011.
Smiths City has four stores
in Christchurch, including
Colombo St, Northwood, Upper
Riccarton and Bush Inn.
EXPANSIVE: Smiths City Market on Colombo St in 1984.
CLASSIC: Smiths City’s television and audio section at the
Colombo St store in 1983.