US-NZ Pacific Partnership Forum

US-NZ Pacific Partnership Forum

Media Release – 21 May 2013

The appreciation of the opportunity that Christchurch offers is high, and interested groups in the United States have not forgotten what support they can still give, says Christchurch Central Development Unit Director, Warwick Isaacs.

Mr Isaacs is in Washington with other Christchurch community leaders, including Peter Townsend from the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce and Canterbury University’s vice chancellor Rod Carr, to take part in the US-NZ Pacific Partnership Forum.

The US-NZ Pacific Partnership Forum has a strong link to Christchurch, as the city was hosting its 2011 event on the day of the February earthquake. Over 110 Americans including some members of the US Congress witnessed the tragedy and aftermath of the earthquake firsthand.

The earthquake was acknowledged by the US Deputy Secretary of State, William Burns, in his opening address on Monday.

As a panellist in the sessions titled Cities of the Future, Mr Isaacs noted there remains much Christchurch can offer across the investment, business and philanthropic areas.

He agreed with one of audience members, who asked if designing a more compact city would throw investors and developers new challenges as well as opportunities when looking to rebuild in the CBD.

“It comes down to the best urban design for the space we have. We know the current building height restriction may seem like a more conservative option for an investor, but we believe that opinion will change as developments show that compact cities work well,” Mr Isaacs said.

“They allow for living and working centrally without creating wind tunnel or shaded streets.”

Mr Isaacs’ comments were backed by a Portland architect, Craig Briscoe, who noted that while there were vast aesthetic difference between Paris and New York, both were populous, vibrant cities.

"It works for Paris, it can work for Christchurch".

The Pacific Partnership Forum ends today (TUESDAY).

ENDS

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