Electrical Engineers Trade Exhibition Welcome Speech

Thursday 19th June 2003

Good evening, welcome to exhibitors and guests.

I can't help observing before my more formal greeting that one of the things I love about restoring old cars is that the electrics are so simple.

The Austin 7 and the Dodge are wonderfully easy while more modern cars make me think maybe each should come complete with an electrical engineer on permanent standby.

Another lesson I have learnt from history is that there never seems to have been a riot because a politician was brief in their remarks.

So I shall move on to the formal welcome to the city of Christchurch.

We are a city with a very different reality to our traditional image.

We are increasingly multicultural.

English looking, but in reality with some high schools where over 60 nationalities are on the roll.

We also manage to combine the best of small town life with all the plus points of being a major metropolitan city.

We are New Zealand's most outward facing city, a trading city that lives by trade and engagement with the rest of the world.

We are a city that, as a result, leads the way in economic trends, up and down.

Economists refer to us the light on the dashboard that always goes on first in times of change.

Topically for this show we are the home to the bulk of New Zealand's cutting edge electronics and computer industries.

Our superb natural environment provides the drawcard that pulled in what they like to call the gold collar workers in high tech, even at the height of the tech boom.

We are a city where people like to live.

We provide the export link for our famous primary produce such as Canterbury lamb.

No to mention our wines and cheeses.

Economically we combine the best of the new with the robust backing of expertise in older traditional sectors.

Our main point of difference on other prosperous cities is that we have a thriving modern economy working to look after the most valuable economic asset of all, our people.

We have public ownership of major utilities like the port and airport.

The dividends from these help keep rates the lowest of any major New Zealand city .

We also take pride in not only holding onto our natural assets, but in enhancing them.

We have literally hundreds of parks and reserves within walking distance of everyone in the city.

We hold sport and the chance for active recreation to be a right for everyone.

Christchurch has a great supply of sporting centres, community centres and pools within the reach of virtually every pocket.

We also take our cultural and intellectual capital seriously, with world class libraries and now New Zealand's newest Art Gallery.

As a city that encourages prosperity of pocket, body and mind, we also like to have fun.

Take the time out to try our entertainment, dining and retail attractions while you are here.

We are an international city that also manages to offer a uniquely Kiwi experience.

I hope you enjoy your stay here.