Asian Retailers Conference

October 2003

Welcome to our city of Christchurch and a rather special local economy here in Canterbury - you have chosen your conference venue well. I note the theme of this conference is to "refresh''. In that context it is worth pointing out that one of our more recent slogans for Canterbury is "Fresh Each Day.''

Few people here, even New Zealanders, will be aware that early last century one of the slogans for Christchurch was that of the City of Shops. We have always had a strong affinity for retailing, and consuming. In fact Christchurch and Canterbury always figure high in the monthly retail figures for New Zealand regions.

We are a trading city and like other trading cities we also seem to like to enjoy the fruits of trade.

I said at the beginning that we have a rather special local economy here. It is special in that it is unusually prosperous.

In fact Canterbury recently hit a historic milestone. We have just recorded our eighth consecutive quarter of growth. This is the longest period of sustained economic growth ever recorded by the bank that does this survey. It put us into first equal with the Bay of Plenty for top growth rates in New Zealand.

Our mixed economy has produced robust results at a time when other parts of the world economy have been faltering. In that context we are pleased that our city is able to provide you with
your conference venue and also provide the shop window for you to see the many winning products and ideas New Zealand has to offer.

I have just come back from some time in Japan and Korea myself. I am very confident that much of our economic future as a region will come from working with Asia. Today provides us with a wonderful chance to enhance these ties for the future.