This year up to 35,110 people have visited ‘Be There’ each month, with record numbers expected for December, says website co-ordinator Clare Quirke. “Use of the site is generally following the same seasonal patterns as last year but at a much higher level.”

Statistics gathered from the site also show that Christchurch people start planning their weekends from Wednesday and most frequently visit the internet for events information at morning tea, lunch and after work at 7.30pm.

Clare says, “users seem to be more comfortable about listing events than last year.” A record 144 new items were listed by the public during March. “While Council staff monitor the site daily, ‘Be There’ is now largely self sustaining. The community has really taken ownership of it,” she says.

Since the site was reformatted in June and newsletters sent fortnightly rather than monthly., subscriptions have also increased dramatically.

Among the events listed on ‘Be There’ for later this month are Christmas Carols in Victoria Square, December 24; New Brighton Christmas Parade and Concert, December 14; and Carols at Westlake, December 14.

SummerTimes events and other important happenings throughout the next few months are also listed for those wishing to plan ahead.