Adelaide Deputy Lord Mayor to visit

Christchurch’s four decade strong Sister City relationship with Adelaide will be further strengthened by a visit from Adelaide’s Deputy Lord Mayor next week.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker will host Adelaide Deputy Lord Mayor David Plumridge AM and Adelaide City Councillor Sandy Wilkinson from 26-30 September.  The visit will focus on the 40th anniversary of the Sister City relationship and continue building business and tourism ties between the two cities.

Mayor Parker says the visit is also an opportunity to thank the Adelaide community for the support it gave Christchurch after the earthquakes and to show the delegation the progress being made in the rebuild.

“Adelaide generously hosted University of Canterbury students until they could return to Christchurch once post-earthquake facilities had been set up. There were also fundraising initiatives set up by the Adelaide City Council and the community.

“The visit will show the delegation firsthand how much work is going on in the city, which they can then go back and promote to their communities.  This is one way we can demonstrate to the rest of the world that Christchurch is recovering, open for business and a desirable place to visit and invest.”

One of the topics that will be under discussion between Mayor Parker and Deputy Lord Mayor Plumridge will be how the two cities’ international airports might work together in the future.

Deputy Lord Mayor Plumridge and the delegation will also meet with representatives from the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU), Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC), Christchurch International Airport Ltd (CIAL), Transitional Cathedral and the University of Canterbury (UC) and take a heritage walkabout in the Central City.

Christchurch and Adelaide officially became Sister Cities in 1972.  The initial focus of the relationship was on cultural and educational projects but over the years the partnership has developed to include trade and tourism links between the cities.