The Star: April 04, 2019

The Star Thursday April 4 2019
4
NEWS
• By Julia Evans
THERE IS still a way to go before
the number of businesses in the
central city reaches pre-quake
levels.
The latest quarterly report
from tourism, events and
economic development agency,
ChristchurchNZ, says there are
3897 businesses
operating in the
central city – 65.1
per cent of the
pre-quake level.
Central
City Business
Association
chairman
Brendan Chase
said it took other
central cities decades to fully
develop and it was working well
with ChristchurchNZ to improve
numbers.
“By coming in and exploring
and shopping, that is the biggest
contribution people can make
to the central city. It will attract
more businesses and more
people,” he said.
“I think our biggest challenge is
just altering people’s perception,
we need to disrupt those patterns
of behaviour.”
He said a lot of residents
from both Christchurch and
Canterbury were stuck in the
idea that parking was difficult
and there wasn’t much to do,
which was not true.
CCBA manager Paul Lonsdale
said the rebuild was like
“climbing a hill.”
“The story for the central city
is we have to differentiate from
other shopping destinations. The
more big businesses we can get
in will help support the growth
and birth of the little businesses,”
he said.
Canterbury Employers’
Chamber of Commerce chief
executive Leeann Watson has
called for action from the city
news online at www.star.kiwi
CBD businesses behind pre-quake levels
Brendan
Chase
GROW: The number of businesses in the central city is about 65 per cent of the pre-quake
levels.
council in its Annual Plan to
prioritise development of the
CBD.
“We are not yet back to
business-as-usual, so we need
to make sure central services
are prioritised and that we are
encouraging good, strong, robust
conversations around areas that
can deliver the most impact, “ Ms
Watson said.
“This will be key to changing
our narrative from a postearthquake
rebuild story to
an example of a small, but
innovative, resilient and
courageous city.”
ChristchurchNZ general
manager of strategy, insight
and policy Anna Elphick said
while business numbers haven’t
increased significantly, the
number of employees has grown
by almost 7000.
“The reason that employees
have grown faster than the
number of businesses is that
larger businesses tend to be
the first movers back into new
office developments, and newer
buildings,” she said.
“Traditionally smaller
businesses have operated out
of lower grade (and cheaper)
buildings. Many of these were
lost in the earthquakes.”
ChristchurchNZ general
manager of innovation and
business growth Richard
Sandforth said in an “ideal
world” there would be more
businesses back in the CBD.
“But businesses have
made rational business
decisions around alternate
accommodation, and are tied
into leases which means moving
back cannot happen as quickly as
we would like,” he said.
“As part of our business
attraction strategy, attracting
new business specifically into the
central city is a priority.”
The report showed visitor
spending in the city grew by 12
per cent in 2018, outpacing the
national growth of four per cent.
It also said the city is “uniquely
placed” within New Zealand to
be able to handle a significant
growth in population.
“Christchurch’s strong
economic fundamentals,
available land for development
and strong rebuild platform
make it uniquely placed in
New Zealand’s urban centres
to absorb significant growth
without the additional costs
and challenges facing other
cities.”
MIDDLEPARK CARE SUITES
REST HOME CARE REINVENTED
Business owner, author, librarian and mother
of four, Rie, has always had an active social
life. “Mum loves entertaining – she’s always
had lots of friends,” says daughter Liz.
After her husband passed away, Rie lived on
her own. “Mum loved her home but, as time
went on, she needed more and more help
with things like meals, medicines, showering
and dressing,” Liz explained, “She needed
full-time support.”
It’s such a relief to know that
mum is getting the care she
needs, says Liz
Rie recently moved into a luxury Care Suite
where she receives rest home level care. “It’s
such a relief to know that mum is getting the
care she needs”, says Liz, “and if she ever
needs hospital level care, she can get it in
her Care Suite. She never has to worry about
moving again.”
Liz says the change has been great for
her mum. “She’s well cared for; the food is
superb and she can still entertain in her suite
or pop down to one of the lounges to meet
her friends.”
Rie now has the support she needs to keep
doing the things she loves. “Mum is a music
lover,” says Liz. Soon after she moved in, her
guest service coordinator organised tickets,
She’s well looked after and
she can still entertain in her
suite or pop down to one
of the lounges to meet her
friends from the village.
transport and assistance for Rie and her
friends to watch their favourite band. She
also created a personalised playlist for Rie,
so that she can listen to her favourite music
anytime she wants.
Rie and her family couldn’t be happier with
the attentive and personalised care she
receives. “It’s a good place to live”, says Rie.
“I’ve been very lucky.”
OCEAN0922-A
MIDDLEPARK
75 Middlepark Road, Upper Riccarton
0800 333 688
www.oceaniahealthcare.co.nz