News release
1 March 2007

Autumn campaign sheds new light on Canterbury

Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism is launching a new domestic marketing campaign aimed at enticing more visitors to the area in the autumn months.

The Be There campaign, which begins this Sunday with television advertisements aimed at North Islanders, emphasises the Garden City’s year-round appeal and unrivalled calendar of quality events and activities.

It aims to catapult Christchurch to the top of New Zealanders’ holiday wish list and is being supported by some of Canterbury’s famous sons and daughters.

Former broadcaster and one of the front-runners to take over Christchurch’s mayoralty when Garry Moore steps down later this year, Bob Parker has lived in both Auckland and Wellington but rates the southern city as tops.

“When you look at what is going on in our city it is just as vibrant and magical as the best of the capital or the trendy corners of Auckland,” Mr Parker says.

“Lyttelton is a vibrant, cutting-edge port town with the coolest little nightclub in the universe. Sumner is a hip version of Mission Bay and The Strip has a pretty big reputation for those who like cruising the bars.

“If you draw a circle around Christchurch and travel for an hour you find some of the best wineries and great alpine and seaside resorts. Canterbury is home to an amazing percentage of New Zealand’s wealth but it’s also home to an amazing wealth of diversity.”

Julia Deans, lead singer in Fur Patrol, agrees. She has chosen to come home to Christchurch next month to perform a one-off concert at the New Zealand International Jazz and Blues Festival.

"Beneath it's charming Garden City veneer, Christchurch has a unique creative underbelly that's worth a bit of a tickle," Julia Deans says.

Comedic actor and writer David McPhail says people think the only time to see Christchurch is when it’s in bloom in the spring.

“That's simply not the case. Apart from the events that are on, one of
the joys ... about Christchurch is that because there are so many trees
in the city you get the full blast of autumn.''

The city also boasts one of the finest art galleries in the country and
arguably the best Botanic Gardens so that even if there is no special
event on, there is plenty to see and do.

“I spend a lot of time travelling and eating out, but for variety of restaurants Christchurch takes a lot of beating. And they're consistently all very good,'' David McPhail says.

Christchurch-based TV personality and producer Jason Gunn says Christchurch is 20 minutes to anything: beaches, mountains, rivers, restaurants and the rellies.

“It’s an international destination with a small town feel and my wife says the frock shops are as good as you can get!”

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Ian Bougen says many North Islanders do not realise what’s going on in the region.

“Christchurch has so much to offer visitors it’s hard to know where to start. The city has a real cosmopolitan edge to it these days and a range of events and festivals that other cities look at with envy. Our cultural precinct has a treasure trove of museums and galleries and with exhibitions on in Christchurch like Toi Maori – The Eternal Thread visitors really are spoilt for choice.”

Christchurch City Council events development manager Jo Naish says the Be There campaign highlighted the array of events on in the region for visitors and residents alike.

“Christchurch is a very vibrant city – there’s no excuse for being bored when there is so much happening. You just have to get out and Be There,’’ Jo Naish says.

Not-to-be missed events in Canterbury this autumn include:

* Le Race Le Race on 31 March is New Zealand’s premier hill cycling event and sees cyclists racing from the centre of Christchurch across the picturesque Port Hills to the charming French village of Akaroa.

* The New Zealand International Jazz and Blues Festival - This festival runs for nine days from April 13 and features a fantastic line up of international performers as well as some of New Zealand’s best musicians. Best-selling American blues singer and multi-Grammy award winner Bonnie Raitt is headlining the festival which will also feature concerts by Fur Patrol’s lead singer Julia Deans and legendary Kiwi musician Dave Dobbyn.

* Savour New Zealand - The landmark event for food and wine lovers, Savour New Zealand is a smorgasbord of tantalising taste experiences. The ultimate showcase of new ideas and techniques, highlights will include presentations from international masters such as UK food writer, Tom Parker Bowles, top Californian chef Nancy Oakes, Justin North of Sydney’s award-winning Becasse and Spanish legend Gabriela Llamas It’s on from 27 April to 29 April.

* Toi Maori – The Eternal Thread – On at the Christchurch Art Gallery until the end of May represents the homecoming of a major international touring exhibition celebrating the changing art of Maori weaving. The exhibition features traditional and contemporary work by more than forty leading Maori weavers, and includes kakahu (cloaks), whariki (mats), taniko (tapestries), tukutuku (wall panels), piupiu (skirts) and kete (baskets).

ENDS

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