The Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, has crossed The Ditch in a quirky new campaign to encourage more Australians to visit the city. His grand plan is to borrow some of Australia’s Big Things!
In a series of humorous videos, Mayor Bob Parker and his bumbling assistant Keith take a tour around Australia’s big icons, including the Big Merino in Goulburn, Big Chook in Mount Vernon and the Big Pineapple in Queensland, and try to convince the locals to let Christchurch borrow them for a while.
There is a serious side to the campaign. Since the earthquakes of September 4, 2010 and February 22, 2011, the number of Australians visiting Canterbury has dropped by 43 per cent – 70,000 short of the typical 400,000 annual arrivals.
Launched yesterday (Wednesday, September 25) Christchurch Reimagined is designed to show Australians how the city has moved on to emerge as one of the most creative and exciting destinations in New Zealand.
Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism chief executive Tim Hunter says the aim of the campaign is to change the way Australians view the city. “The Christchurch that many Australians picture in their minds has changed dramatically. What visitors to Christchurch find now is a city unlike any other in the world – a city where the determination to carry on has led to innovative developments like shipping container shopping malls and pop-up bars and restaurants,” he said.
“We’re still a glorious garden city, but now we offer something unique.”
As part of the campaign electronic billboards have been set up in Melbourne and Sydney to screen a live feed of images from Christchurch residents and visitors.
Mayor Parker says Australia was traditionally the city’s biggest source of visitors but since the quakes many felt it would be inappropriate to visit.
“Those dark days are behind us though and as city we’ve moved forward in leaps and bounds. We still have a lot of rebuilding to do, but transitional Christchurch is an inspiring and exciting place to be,” Mayor Parker says.
And it’s not just the locals who have picked up on the city’s rejuvenated spirit. Travel bible Lonely Planet praises the energy and creativity on display in Christchurch in its latest New Zealand Guide.
“Visiting the country’s second-largest city as it’s being rebuilt and reborn is both interesting and inspiring.”
Have a look at Lonely Planet’s Top New Zealand experiences, our gallery of our favourite Big Things and these videos of The Mayor – and Keith! – out and about in Australia:
(Our featured image is by Akos Kokai)
