Christchurch wins International Urban Innovation Award

Christchurch’s Transitional City initiative has won a prestigious international award.

The Christchurch entry was one of five cities to win the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation at a ceremony in Guangzhou, China on Friday 28 November.

The independent award jury, composed of seven international experts and former mayors, was impressed by the Christchurch entry which illustrated the positive community impact of transitional projects.

Councillor Paul Lonsdale, who represented the Mayor and received the award on behalf of Christchurch, says the win was testament to the great work taking place in Christchurch’s post earthquake environment.

“We were excited to be selected as one of the 15 shortlisted entries hosted by the city of Guangzhou and have the opportunity to present Christchurch’s story. Transitional initiatives have made a real difference to the Christchurch community, adding colour and vibrancy to the city in this interim stage of recovery.”

"The award recognises the community-led transitional initiatives which encourage participation to create the places that are putting Christchurch on the map and the Council's commitment to supporting these initiatives," says Councillor Lonsdale.

“There is relevance beyond Christchurch for transitional city approaches. All cities are evolving whether they have suffered a natural disaster or not. The awards are a great way to share new ideas and celebrate innovative practices with participating cities. Hopefully this encourages other cities to be part of a global movement where local governments work closely with their communities to encourage innovation, creativity and resilience.”

‘Christchurch: Our Ever Evolving City’ was one of 15 initiatives shortlisted for the international award from a pool of 209. A total of 177 cities from 57 countries and regions submitted entries. The awards provided a rigorous and independent process for entries to present and be challenged on their innovations.

The Guangzhou Award aims to reward innovations to improve the socio-economic environments in cities and regions, promote sustainability and advance the livelihood of their citizens. Presented biennially, the awards encourage and recognise outstanding innovative projects and practices in the public sector.

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