150th Birthday Bash

Saturday 29 July 2006

Kia Ora, Ngā mihi mō tō rā whānau. (happy birthday)

Happy Birthday Christchurch City! Welcome everyone to our party!

Our party celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Christchurch Diocese and the establishment of Christchurch as a city.

At the ripe old age of 150, Christchurch can justly claim to be the oldest city in New Zealand. We precede Nelson in this distinction by two years.

We are the first city of New Zealand and we have kept on being the first city. We had the first woman MP, the first public works programme and the first affordable housing. We are a city with a heart.

Today I want to acknowledge the spirit which led to the establishment of this city. It rests easily on our shoulders and in our hearts. This city has a sustainable balance of people and infrastructure. We are big enough to have the good things a city aspires to, and boutique enough to ensure our neighbourhoods are friendly and supportive.

Lots of people here today have dressed as the Christchurch things that are dear to their hearts. And there are thousands of other good things; Taonga that make living in this city fun, positive and inspiring.

Yet even with all of our treasures, we are small enough to have kept the sense of community our forebears aspired to. We are a city made up of a series of small villages, each working alongside each other to debate issues, celebrate successes, mourn losses, promote opportunity and strengthen community. The strength of this city is its people - you and your families living together, working together and supporting peace and goodwill.

As you travel around the city and Peninsula over the next few days you will see lots of red and black ribbon - strong Canterbury colours ‘threading’ together the jigsaw of historic points that have played an important part in the development of Christchurch. They acknowledge people, place and time – key components to defining the richness of what we have today.

Take time out to look around this place we all call ‘home’ - it always gives me great pride to do that and to consider the greatness of what we have achieved across time.

Our party wouldn’t be a birthday party without cake. A special BIG thank you to Divine Cakes and Desserts who have provided 150 metres of Carrot Cake for the people of Christchurch. We will be sending pieces of this cake across the city today to give those, who can’t make it to the party, a small slice of the fun.

So, today lets celebrate together – the past, the present and the future; have fun, eat cake and join in the party!

Long may this city thrive!