Quake puts paid to Wellington's Canberra Week events

Wellington Chamber of Commerce
Media Statement
Monday 14th November 2016

Quake puts paid to Wellington's Canberra Week events

A week of Wellington-Canberra Sister City and Chamber of Commerce events is one of the casualties of the earthquakes that shook the capital today.

Nearly 40 public events and business forums, seminars and tours were set down to run all this week as part of the joint arrangements signed between the councils and the chambers of the two capitals earlier this year, but Wellington Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive John Milford says his Canberra counterpart had decided it would be inappropriate to go ahead.

"I received a telephone call this morning from Robin Hendry of the Canberra Business Chamber basically saying Wellington had enough to be going on with in the aftermath of the earthquakes, and the best option would be to cancel the events and let us get on with the clean-up.

"This was a series of events to be hosted by the ACT Government to promote the growing bond between our two cities. It was very special to them and we were really looking forward to it. It would have been a wonderful opportunity for Wellington business to strengthen bonds and make new contacts with the Canberra business community. They were bringing 30 businesses to take part in an excellent-looking programme.

"Ms Hendry passes her best wishes to Wellingtonians and says they are thinking of us as we sort things out. Those of their party who were already here are now returning home.

"We have both pledged to organise a significant joint event next year."

ends

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