March - April 2014

Hello everyone

Best wishes for 2014, the year the New York Times

declared Christchurch right up at number two on

their 52 Places to Go in 2014. And why wouldnt they!!

Three years after two large earthquakes devastated central Christchurch, the city is experiencing a rebirth with creativity and wit thanks to the ingenuity of its hardy residents and is welcoming tourists back again.

Im very proud to learn we are making such an impact on the world stage. Everywhere I go in

Christchurch I see very real examples of this

creativity, and ingenuity, and clearly the mention of hardy residents means this has not gone unnoticed by international observers.

Read more from the New York Times here:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/10/tr

avel/2014-places-to-go.html?_r=0

I welcome this praise with the same confidence I

have that Christchurch and New Zealand will surge

ahead in 2014: a robust economy; multi-billion

dollar infrastructure investment; more educational

and training opportunities for our youth;

experienced and dependable fiscal management

and an ongoing Government commitment to the

Christchurch rebuild. As the International Business

Times says, its a golden year for New Zealands economy.

Did you know about

RISE Christchurch

You may well have seen the fantastic and

very professionally crafted street art around

the central city area. The RISE street art

festival includes an exhibition at the

Canterbury Museum which runs till the 23

March. Admission is free and the exhibits are

striking.

http://streetart.co.nz/rise-artists/

http://streetart.co.nz/rise/

Christchurch City Council Strengthening Communities Fund now open

Applications Over $5000

Applications close 31st March

All decisions made after 1st July

Funding period is 1st September to

31st August annually

Further information at:

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/cityleisure/communityfunding/communitygrants/index.aspx#jumplink2

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourisms real time Discovery Stream site

Check out whats happening in Christchurch and Canterbury on this real time website

launched by Christchurch and Canterbury

Tourism. You can upload and contribute

yourself or see whats happening around the region throughout the day and night

http://reimagined.christchurchnz.com/

The Flip Side. The Great Wainoni Scone Bake Off -

and the winner is

Whether it was the touch of blue in my

blueberry scones or the practice goes Id had,

something went right for me at the Wainoni

Community Fund Days great scone bakeoff!!

The event was organised by Betty Chapman from

Wainoni Avonside Community Services (WACS),

and joining me in the Masterscone Kitchen

were Christchurch City Councillors Ali Jones, Paul

Lonsdale, Yani Johanson, Glenn Livingstone and

David East, and Christchurch East MP Poto

Williams. Lots of fun and huge thanks and well

done to Betty Chapman on her organisation of

the event and dedicated and tireless work for her

community.

Congratulations Mrs Dot Judkins on her 104th birthday, 14

March 2014

Mrs Nellie Lloyd on her 100th birthday, 15

March 2014

Mr John and Mrs Greta Bielawski on their 60th

wedding anniversary, 9 January 2014

Mr Colin and Mrs Pamela Russell on their 60th

wedding anniversary, 13 February 2014

Mr Graeme and Mrs Barbara Wyeth on their

50th wedding anniversary, 1 February 2014

Birds Eye View celebrates three years of women in the recovery and rebuild

Nicky Wagner MP, with Prime Minister John Key celebrating three years of the Birds Eye View forum

What a fabulous line up of guest speakers we

have featured at Birds Eye View over the past

three years. The Birds Eye View forum was born

out of my personal observation, and more

importantly concern, that the faces we were

seeing featured in the Christchurch Earthquake

recovery and rebuild did not include enough

women. Especially when so many capable and

truly dedicated women were out there leading

the way, or representing the drive behind so

many recovery and rebuild initiatives.

So I thought, Its time to start hearing about -

and from - these fabulous women. And three

years later, our Birds Eye View forum has

revealed such talent, such passion, and such

achievement in so many facets of the rebuild.

Our three year anniversary forum really

showcased this talent, and honoured guest Prime

Minister John Key certainly acknowledged the

calibre and contributions of the presenters. Well

done to you all, and sincere thanks to all those

who have attended Birds Eye View over this time

too. Your contributions to the open discussions

have been insightful and heartfelt and your

perspectives and opinions so very welcome as

our city and region rebuild.

Below: Birds Eye View guest speakers at the anniversary forum

Nicky Wagner MP for Christchurch Central nicky.wagner@parliament.govt.nz Christchurch office 365 8297, 103 Salisbury St Box 21359, Christchurch 8143

Funded by the Parliamentary Service and authorised by Nicky Wagner MP, 103 Salisbury St, Christchurch

Nicky Wagner MP, winner of the great scone bake-off, with celebrity chef and competition judge Jo Seager

NitC March April 2014.pdfNitC March April 2014 PAGE 2 revised.pdf