Turners and Growers Official Opening

Tuesday 10 August 2004

I would just like to start out by noting that your move has been good for you, and good for the city too. We now have a prime slice of inner city land to develop in a way that history will show was a catalyst for the next big surge of inner city development.

You should now be well positioned to play a strong role in the developing growth of this city and province. And what a growth story it has been so far this century. It's getting to the point where the quarters of positive growth have turned into years.

We have quite simply enjoyed one of the most sustained and profound times of growth in the history of Christchurch.

As The Press so rightly noted this morning in their leader page, our problems are virtually all those of growth. As such they are a luxurious set of problems to have.

Unlike Auckland, we also have the time and chance to get it right before growth backfires on us and takes away those very qualities that attract and keep us here at present.

But along with the rest of developing world we are also having to grapple with some of the other unwanted results of growth and prosperity. We are getting lots of reminders that some of the very basic building blocks of life, like good food, are vital for health and to stay competitive.

We are hosting the international 5 a Day symposium here in town at present. They would be inclined to make the point that what you deal with here is crucial to keeping ourselves healthy and well. As such your new facility here plays a role that is hugely important to all of us.

One of the great things about the Christchurch economy is that it is still such a mix of what they call the old and new economies. Old economy activity can encompass things like growing crops and food. New economy activity takes in areas like electronics and computer software.

We have become the undisputed capital of New Zealand in this area. We have about 40 per cent more high-tech business here than in Auckland. When you put these old and new economic strands together you get a very powerful trading city. Christchurch has become that city.

A mature, prosperous and active member of the global economic community. It's great to see such a strong commitment from Turners and Growers to our joint future.