Seismics and the City 2015: Creating a Greater Christchurch

CHRISTCHURCH, 20 March 2015 - Seismics and the City 2015 Creating a Greater Christchurch, across sector forum focusing on the post-quake recovery process, progress, problems and solutions, will be held in Christchurch on Friday 27 March.

The event is the fourth in an annual series for public and private sector and community organisations, and interested individuals, on the rebuilding of Greater Christchurch in the wake of the quakes of 2010-2011.

Forum convener Lyall Lukey from SmartNet says, “This year’s forum will fill in the bigger picture of recovery and connect the dots on a broad canvas as the renewed city takes shape. It will also provide rare opportunities for cross sector feedback, input and knowledge sharing to enhance the quality of high level strategic planning and implementation.”

He says that there is a real need for enhanced cross sector collaboration to drive the implementation of the rebuild which he says is now at a tipping point.

“The direction of the recovery is as important as the speed. The recovery process is starting to transition from centralised control to much more distributed local ownership of issues and solutions. Organisations and individuals will be supportive of what they help to create so it’s important they are engaged in both planning and implementation”, says Mr Lukey.

Forum topics include frank appraisals of Canterbury’s post-recovery from different perspectives and updates on the current state of play, what is in the pipeline, the main roadblocks and how they can be removed.

A session titled The Big Recovery Picture will see central and local government, business and media give their perspectives on Greater Christchurch's post quakes recovery and rebuild. Contributors include Hon. Nicky Wagner, Associate Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, John Ombler, Acting CEO, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, Ian Simpson, CEO, NZ Earthquake Commission, Raf Manji, Finance Spokesperson, Christchurch City Council, Peter Townsend, CEO, Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce, and Joanna Norris, Editor, The Press.

Nick Hunt, Lichfield Holdings Ltd and developer Stephen Collins will outline commercial development progress, opportunities and issues in Central Christchurch and beyond. Sessions on engaging citizens and engaging quake claimants and community networks provide an opportunity for local knowledge sharing and learning.

Morning breakout sessions covering a wide variety of topics include: Christchurch City's Draft District Plan; The State of Mental Health in Canterbury in Post Quakes Canterbury; Meeting in the Middle – institutional and community-led responses; Improving the Claims System -Community, customer and partner dialogue and information sharing; and Earthquake Recovery Programme for the Natural Environment.

Vodafone’s Russell Stanners will headline a creativity and innovation session on smart buildings and new ways of working with Kevin Lynn, Schneider Electric NZ and Dr Corrine Haines, Trimble.

Afternoon breakout sessions include: The Arts in Business - How collaborations between the creative industries and business sector are defining the rebuild; Total Communications - Visiting the Future Now with Innovative mobile solutions and integrated next generation networks; Seismically Smart Buildings; and EVolocity: An electrifying vehicle for young talent and innovation.

The forum starts with a networking breakfast with University of Canterbury’s Dr. Mark Quigley on The Seismic Shakeup - Changes to the lie of the land-physical and metaphorical, followed by Voices of the Rising Generation - The aspirations of 3 young people for a renewed Christchurch and their goals for their own contribution to it. After cross sector updates, perspectives and discussion on shaping the new Christchurch during the day, an open forum on Creating a Greater Christchurch will conclude the day.

Seismics and the City 2015 is sponsored by Vodafone, EQC, and Schneider Electric, and is supported by CECC and The Press.

While the event is aimed at representatives of public and private sector organisations there are special rates for representatives of community organisations and interested individuals. For more information on Seismics and the City 2015 visit www.smartnet.co.nz

-ENDS-

Seismics and the City
Seismics and the City is a cross sector forum focusing on the post-quake recovery process, progress, problems and solutions. Seismics and the City 2015: Creating a Greater Christchurch is the fourth in an annual series for public and private sector and community organisations, and interested individuals, on the rebuilding of Greater Christchurch in the wake of the 2010-11 quakes.

Visit http://www.smartnet.co.nz/events/other/2015seismicsandthecity.htm for more information.

© Scoop Media