New venues create windfall for Christchurch

Christchurch's new $15 million Convention Centre is already paying dividends.
Since it opened in May the Convention Centre has provided 30,000 hours of new work and pumped about $2 million in wages into the Christchurch economy, with events worth more than $100 million to the City booked for the next five years.

According to management company NCC Ltd (NZ), in its first six months of operation the Convention Centre complex has also:

• Attracted 2,500 conference visitors, including 500 overseas delegates;
• Hosted more than 90 events and 70,000 visitors;
• Held four gala dinners raising more than $50,000 for charity;
• Bought $1.93 million worth of food and beverage, half of it purchased directly from Canterbury businesses.

NCC is also marketing the $33.25m WestpacTrust Sport and Entertainment Centre under construction at Addington and due to open in August 1998. With an audience capacity of up to 8,500, New Zealand's largest indoor arena will host sports events, concerts and exhibitions which would previously have bypassed the South Island. "Like the Convention Centre, it will bring visitors and economic benefits to Christchurch, such as the 1999 World Netball Championships" says NCC manager Mike Kelly.

The centres are part of a major development package initiated by City Councillors in 1994. They were targeted to stimulate economic growth, enhance the quality of the City's environment, create jobs and increase the range of activities available for Christchurch people.

November 1997 City Scene ~ City Scene Archive