28 July 2015

Is It Time for a Locally-Led Recovery?

Video asks the question with two days to make a submission on Government transition plan

• Government focused on a flag rather than brokenness in the city – young resident

• I felt like giving up recently – small business owner

• We hear about CBD but there’s no plan for our street - resident

Award-winning documentary filmmaker Gerard Smyth has teamed up with Christchurch broadcaster Chris Lynch and Rebuild Christchurch’s Deon Swiggs to produce a second video asking residents “Is it time for a locally-led recovery?”.

The 5-minute video, part of the “Have Your Say” campaign launched earlier this month, features young people, residents and small businesses who say they still don’t feel like they have a say in the recovery and planning of the city.

The young people are particularly critical of Government and adamant that the recovery should not be controlled “like a dictatorship” by one person.

“There’s so much of Christchurch that could already be fixed, but they’ve been focusing on other things that aren’t entirely important, like the flag”.

The young people believe control of the city’s future should be with the local community.

The video also features local business owner Johnny Moore: “I know a number of people who have had a crack at small business and it’s just too hard. There’s a bunch of rules and regulations out there that just makes it tough every step of the way. I thought about giving up recently.”

The “Have Your Say” campaign was in response to the Government’s recent announcement about the CERA transition plan, with a proposal to set up a new entity ‘Regenerate Christchurch’.

The latest video was produced after the popularity of the first video “Do You Care About Christchurch? Christchurch Transition Plan” that has been played over 75,000 times across social media platforms.

Residents now only have two days to have their say. They can make their submissions through the following links:

http://actionstation.org.nz/christchurch

http://cera.govt.nz/transition

ENDS

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