Can I acknowledge our hosts Gwangju City and UNESCO, along with fellow panellists.

I‘m sorry I can’t join you online but the time difference is too great.
I wanted to congratulate the World Human Rights Cities Forum and UNESCO for inviting us to look at our experiences of COVID-19 through the lens of racism and discrimination.

As part of any conversation about racism and discrimination, and as a nation that was colonised by the British in the 19th century, we cannot ignore the impacts of systemic racism and structural discrimination that are an integral part of the institutions of state either.

As many of you will know, for more than a decade Ōtautahi Christchurch has had to confront a range of challenges – from the devastating earthquakes of 2010/2011, through floods and fires, to the atrocity of the terrorist attack on the city’s mosques on March 15, 2019 – the year before COVID-19 hit the world.

It was the attack on the mosques that saw 51 men, women and children killed and many more traumatised by injuries and all that they saw, that laid bare where this all ends.

What kind of society have we become that enables such hatred and such fear to fester and for radicalisation to occur?
What are the solutions?

At the national remembrance service, the Prime Minister said:
 “…we are not immune to the viruses of hate, of fear, of other.
We never have been. But we can be the nation that discovers the cure.
And so to each of us as we go from here, we have work to do, but do not leave the job of combatting hate to the government alone.
We each hold the power, in our words and in our actions, in our daily acts of kindness.  Let that be the legacy of the 15th of March. To be the nation we believe ourselves to be.”

This was the challenge we wanted to take on as a city, and I guess my main message is that the leadership for this has to be shared with the community.

Community-led initiatives have considerable power.

A significant community initiative was to be announced just after the first anniversary of March 15, however, as we know that turned out to be the time that saw the country preparing for the first COVID lockdown.

Our experience of COVID as a city and nation has mirrored others.

COVID reinforces the socio-economic divide.

Māori and Pasifika are far more exposed to the health and socio-economic impacts of the pandemic, both in terms of health effects and employment.

And in terms of racism and discrimination, social media platforms are at once great disseminators of information – going viral can be good in this context – but also disseminators of misinformation and hate.
Proactive campaigns to resolve inequity with targeted vaccination campaigns for Maori and Pasifika receives some negative commentary on social media about getting preferential treatment.

It is easy to tap into the sentiment that someone is getting more than they should, by implying that you are missing out.

The fact that Maori and Pasifika are much more likely to die if they get the virus than someone like me, is lost.

And in the same vein, the origin of the COVID-19 virus being China, gave another overlay for many members of our Asian communities, who felt that they were being blamed for the virus.

This was called out by government, city leaders and the Human Rights Commission.

Anti-hate marches were held in the main centres, including our city, to reinforce support for our Asian communities.

However, these are reactive to a moment in time. We need a sustained commitment to end racism and discrimination.

After each of the crises we have confronted, the images that come to mind are not cities falling apart but people coming together.

We always come together in times of crisis, so why not every day.

The city has taken a leadership role in this regard.

The Christchurch Multicultural Strategy Te Rautaki Mātāwaka Rau Our Future Together was released in 2017.
 
It had four goals, the first three focussed on the Council as an organisation and how communities can engage in an equitable way and participate in decision-making.

• Christchurch City Council is an inclusive and diverse organisation
• All communities have equitable access to Council services and resources
• All residents are able to participate in Council decision-making

We set targets and measure them, so we can see the progress we are making.

Goal 4 is not so easy to measure as it relies on active and connected communities:

Christchurch is a city of cultural vibrancy, diversity, inclusion and connection.

The community outcomes we are seeking to achieve are:

• A safe place that people are welcomed into
• A commitment to welcoming all & a commitment to reciprocity
• A place where we can achieve common goals, working together

The role of the council shifts to an enabler, facilitator and partner:

• Building resilience and community responsiveness
• Investment in social infrastructure and capacity building
• Nurturing enduring and trusted relationships – deep in community
• Long term solutions rather than short-termism driven by political cycles
• Championing “permission-less” leadership
• Supporting and resourcing community led responses
• Amplifying the voices of the community

It is here that we see the essence of community-led initiatives, focused on building resilience and community responsiveness.

There have been many community initiatives that I could talk about, however I wanted to focus on The Christchurch Invitation Mahia te Aroha – Maori words that reflect action and compassion.

You may recall the incredible response to the mosque attacks - it was the power of that response, which had led a small group of Muslims to come together to explore how we could use that to make real change.
They wanted the flood of support, the unity and compassion they experienced to be built into something lasting; something that we could all contribute to for the benefit of all.

The Christchurch Invitation, Mahia te Aroha, invites us all to take some simple actions in our everyday lives and make them part of who we are each and every day.

We spread peace, we share food, we reconnect with each other, and we spend time in reflection, so as to replenish our wairua, spirit, the essence of who we are as people.

Although developed from within our Muslim community this invitation is inclusive of people of all faiths or none.

At its essence is humanity – and the invitation is to us all.

I was so proud as the Mayor to see members of our community who had been through so much take the lead to offer these simple but deeply profound sentiments grounded in humanity that invite us all to a better way of being.

And the challenge we take with us, as I’m sure you all do is;
How do we keep the unity real; to be a community that stands up for and celebrates diversity, where unity is the norm, where all are treated with decency and respect no matter our gender, language, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.

Where there is no room for intolerance, prejudice and racism.

Where we take on the reality of the unconscious bias that undermines our capacity to connect with all people.

Where we demolish the structural barriers that prevent people being the best that they can be.

And when we have courageous conversations about those things that stand in our way of being an inclusive community that values the true worth of diversity.

It is customary to end a contribution such as this with a whakatauki, which is a traditional Maori proverb.

Kia kotahi te hoe. Paddle as one.
Ko te wā whakawhiti. It is time for change.

I wish you well as you continue this very important discussion.
​
Kia ora koutou katoa.

Kia ora koutou katoa.

It is my privilege to welcome you to INTECOL Wetlands Conference and to acknowledge the International Association of Ecology, New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society, Australian Freshwater Sciences Society, New Zealand National Wetland Trust, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
I was hoping that I would be able to welcome you to Ōtautahi Christchurch in person.

It would have been amazing to have this conference be the one to launch Te Pae our city’s new convention centre.

We thought that the extraordinary effort put in by our team of five million would have seen us be in a unique position to at least welcome our Australian friends from across the Tasman.

But it was not to be.

So let me describe that we would have been welcoming you to a venue by the spring-fed Ōtākaro/Avon River, which along with the Ōpāwaho/Heathcote River meanders through the city and flows into Ihutai the Avon Heathcote Estuary. And to the south is Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere and to the north, the Styx River and Brooklands lagoon. These all together form an integrally connected network of wetlands of international significance.

I was immensely proud when Ihutai joined an exclusive list of wetlands making up the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) network in October 2018.

Ihutai has a vital role in supporting migratory waders and shorebirds and offers a safe haven for bar-tailed godwits, lesser knots/huahou, and other shorebirds such as the endemic South Island pied oystercatcher/ torea.

Over the last few weeks around 1000 godwits/kuaka have arrived back in the estuary after their annual non-stop 11,000-kilometre flight from Alaska.

With the estuary at our city’s front door and birds easily visible feeding and roosting at a range of sites, it’s easy for residents and visitors to enjoy and understand the estuary’s international significance.
The question kua kite te kohanga kuaka (who has seen the nest of the kuaka), tells us this has been part of the ebb and flow of our natural world for centuries.

The rivers and estuary are especially significant to Ngāi Tahu, the local iwi/Māori tribe.

The dramatic changes that have affected and still affect wetlands have strongly impacted their customary relationship with ‘wetlands’ and as places for mahinga kai.

Mātauranga Māori relates to that historic and present-day traditional knowledge, the systems of knowledge transfer and storage, and the local goals and aspirations from an indigenous perspective.
The theme for this 11th IWC has drawn on this and asks you to focus on traditional knowledge and innovative science in wetland research and management. The organisers wanted to create a programme that would enable the sharing of stories from the five continents and island countries around wetland traditional knowledge and uses.

This is intended to help the integration of traditional knowledge in western science and highlight further the importance of the world wetlands for local populations.

At the same time, and why it is so disappointing that you can’t be here, we in Christchurch have been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to recreate an environment that draws on that integration.

The Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor was created out of what was called the Residential Red Zone – where thousands of houses were bought out by the government after the earthquakes. It is four times the size of Hagley Park and stretches from the central city to the sea.

We have been discussing a co-governance model: Tōpuni: Ōtākaro Avon River Sanctuary. The word Tōpuni derives from the traditional Ngāi Tahu tikanga (custom) of persons of rangatira (chiefly) status extending their mana and protection over a person or area by placing their cloak over them or it.

It has occurred to me that instead of starting from the position of the legal and governance structures that I am used to, we can start by looking to Te Ao Maori. Tōpuni status would confirm the overlay of Ngāi Tahu values on this Sanctuary encompassing the land, the wetlands and the river.

Christchurch City is at the forefront of wetland management and has taken the challenge to restore wetlands, not just for wildlife to thrive, but for flood water storage, while also creating new recreational opportunities for people’s well-being.

Wetlands are important ecosystems that help people reconnect with Nature.

There is great community work happening in the City as illustrated by the recently formed Waterways Community Partnership.

As a city, our six values approach – ecology, landscape, recreation, cultural, heritage and drainage - means our modified and natural waterways and wetlands are so integrated into our urban form, that our residents often don’t see them as anything other than public open space.

An example are the new wetlands which are taking shape in the upper catchment of the Ōpāwaho/Heathcote River as work continues on reducing the flood risk in the area.

The wetlands will also act as a natural filter for stormwater before it flows into the Ōpāwaho/Heathcote River, which is home to koura (freshwater crayfish), kākahi (freshwater mussels) and īnanga (whitebait).

They will be planted with thousands of locally sourced native grasses, shrubs and trees to increase the city’s biodiversity and to create new habitats for native birds, fish and animals.

The planting itself brings communities together, and there is something special about watching the fruits of our labour grow over the years.

Although they have a water storage role in stormy times, it is the walking paths and green spaces that people will be able to enjoy the rest of the time.

As I am entering my last year as Mayor of our wonderful city, it will be a future Mayor who will welcome you here when our borders open.
But regardless of who that is, the values will endure, and you will see a city that has integrated its wetlands into the urban form in a way that offers protection and amenity to the people and supports the biodiversity of our environment.

And I know this as it is an inter-generational responsibility.

I read a description of Kaitiakitanga once that has always remained with me - it is more than stewardship, guardianship, preservation and protection and yet it is all of them. It recognises the relationship between everything and everybody in the natural world – with no distinction between people and their environment. 

It is completely independent of ‘ownership’ in a European sense. It is seamless and all encompassing – making no distinction between moana and whenua - the sea and the land. It ensures any use is sustainable, because it is an intergenerational responsibility - past, present and future - a duty of care owed as much to our ancestors as to our children's grandchildren.

This continuum centres us now at this time with a sense of the urgency with which we must chart the course for the future.
​
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – for us and our children after us.

Ngā mihi nui mihi nui ki a koutou katoa

May I begin with an expression of regret that I can’t be with you in person.

Although the announcement that I won’t be seeking a further term of office as our city’s Mayor has lifted some of the weight from my shoulders, there are still many issues to deal with.

This afternoon’s decision on what is going to be an awesome multi-use arena completing the suite of anchor projects that are the legacy of post-earthquake blueprint, is one of those, but it means I cannot be there.

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend time in Auckland than talking about the city I love, Ōtautahi Christchurch.

TIME recently listed our city in their list of the top 100 world’s greatest places.  They said:

“In many ways, our third annual list of the World’s Greatest Places is a tribute to the people and businesses at the forefront of those industries who, amid extraordinary circumstances, found ways to adapt, build and innovate. It shines a light on ingenuity, creativity, revitalization and re-openings in destinations across the world.” 

And that is exactly how our city feels to me right now. We have definitely turned the corner.

In my time as Mayor, I have invested considerable energy in developing and maintaining relationships.

In so doing, I have developed a deeper understanding of the obligation to honour the Treaty of Waitangi at a local government level. This experience alone has been both enlightening and enriching.

Ōtautahi is part of the rohe of Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu, an iwi with a strong cultural and economic base across Te Waipounamu, committed to caring for the people and the environment.

Although we have established a good relationship with Ngāi Tahu, it is the depth and breadth of the relationships we have built with mana whenua, the six Papatipu Rūnanga across the city and Banks Peninsula, that has offered us a firm foundation for the future.

The rebuilt city centre positions Christchurch as a city for 21st century living, and we can see the stories of mana whenua now embedded in our physical landscape and buildings.

In many respects we are a new city with infrastructure and community facilities that exceed what a city our size would expect - the legacy of investment decisions made in the wake of a crisis.

The area we know as Greater Christchurch – the city together with the surrounding towns from Lincoln and Rolleston to Rangiora and Kaiapoi - is the fastest growing region outside of Auckland, and we have room to expand. 

We are working together collaboratively to reposition ourselves to respond to future challenges we know we need to confront: like climate change, sustainable growth and the need to maintain affordability of housing. 

Greater Christchurch 2050 is a plan for a future that has us thinking about inter-generational equity, something that lies at the heart of the Ngai Tahu whakatauki, mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – for us and our children after us.

Although we are the international gateway and logistics hub for Canterbury and the South Island, with New Zealand’s second largest international airport and second largest export seaport, it is our role as one of only five international gateways to Antarctica that creates a unique set of opportunities for us.

Leveraging the spirit that is evoked when thinking of the heroic era of Antarctic exploration, coupled with the climate science that is vital to our future, we see enormous opportunities for our city’s place in the world.

We’re a region that supports innovation and education excellence. Six of the seven Crown Research Institutes are based in Greater Christchurch, we have four quality tertiary institutions, and we have excellent schools.

We’re breaking new ground in aerospace, trials of autonomous vehicles, including autonomous flying taxis, developments in food, fibre and agritech and health tech alongside other high-tech solutions.
We’re building on the strengths of our region to take advantages of global opportunities, something that is supported by progressive ecosystems connecting enterprise, education, and government.

And the great thing is that we’re small enough to be a real testbed: to be a place of experimentation where we can afford to take risks, while being big enough to be able to scale up for success.

In other words, we offer a place that’s ‘small enough to fail, and big enough to scale’ – the perfect environment for innovation and creativity to take seed.

It’s as if our DNA has changed through each crisis – we’re more prepared to take on the challenges each brings, because we have lived the reality, and we have become used to seeking the opportunities that crisis always offers.

Another legacy of the earthquakes is the area that was ‘red-zoned’, where thousands of homes once stood. It is now the Otakaro-Avon River Corridor, which is four times the size of Hagley Park, and which has created a pathway from the city to the sea.

The opportunities for co-governance and for restoration of the ecological values of the river are enormous, as are the regeneration opportunities that will be developed over many years.

Each and every one of these opportunities creates a world of possibility for partnerships and philanthropic giving which makes our part of the world a better place – and that’s the conversation the Foundation helps to lead, not on the Council’s behalf, but on behalf of the city and region.

Although the Christchurch City Council endorsed the setting up of the Christchurch Foundation in 2016 and have provided establishment grant funding to ensure it gets off to a good head start, it is an independent body, and has more than repaid the investment the city has made.

I could talk about each of the roles the Foundation has played since it began and the Funds it has established, but I will mention just one.

On the night of March 15 2019 I called Amy at around 10pm and asked if she could set up a fund – we named it in the morning Our People, Our City – and by close of play Saturday, this fledging organisation was the official recipient of donations flooding in from around NZ and across the world in the wake of the mosque shootings – fully endorsed by the government of NZ and the Christchurch City Council.

I was never more thankful for the decision we had made to set up the foundation. We could not have done what has been done, nor could we have developed the strength this experience gave the foundation and the legacy it has created, without it.

Whether it’s through one of the business partnerships or the Tui project, whether it’s one of the Funds – including the Kate Sheppard Fund, of which I am a patron – the Foundation empowered by the generosity of donors and business partners – is helping write the next chapter in the rich history of Ōtautahi Christchurch.

​And I am grateful for all of you who are helping to write that chapter with us.

​E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e rau rangatira ma, nau mai haere mai ki tenei kaupapa.
No reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou,  tēnā tatou katoa.
 
Thank you for the opportunity to welcome everyone here and especially to you Prime Minister.

It is always a pleasure to welcome you to Ōtautahi, Christchurch, and of course I don’t need to welcome our own local MP and Minister, the Hon Dr Megan Woods.

I wanted to be here today to acknowledge the government’s commitment to this and other significant projects in our city with the shovel ready fund.

Thank you, Prime Minister.

You have seen today, the fruits of your government’s decision to commit to our nation’s recovery. You can be proud of what that commitment has meant in terms of breathing new life into the YMCA and the creation of Hotel Give. And it’s only Stage 1 with more to come.
I also wanted to be part of today’s relaunch of an old familiar institution as our country’s first socially sustainable hotel.

We are a city of firsts – we were New Zealand’s first city established by Royal Charter and now New Zealand’s newest city.

The city is making real progress, and if there is a project which defines the word regeneration, then this is it.

And it’s only stage 1.

The YMCA has a proud tradition of playing a key part in making the city welcoming and relevant to young people. It is part of the wellbeing focus that your government has demonstrated a commitment to, and one where we see partnerships as the way of the future.

Reinvesting the profits of the Hotel in a maker-space environment that will encourage our young people to explore possibilities that they may not have otherwise considered is a powerful message to send everyone who stays here. By staying at the hotel, you are literally investing in the future.

I went to the certificate presentations for Start Me Up which was developed and funded by a partnership between ChristchurchNZ and MSD; and delivered by the Ministry of Awesome and ThincLab. Many of the participants were staring down the barrel of unemployment, and here they were unlocking entrepreneurial possibilities.

It’s another Christchurch first and demonstrates the benefit of partnerships. One of the participants said it had been life-changing.

And that’s what will make this model succeed - no programmes or prerequisites – it’s the opportunity to explore the potential that lies within using tools that wouldn’t otherwise be available to them - and I know the young people will find this equally life-changing.

So, to John and the Board of the YMCA and Josie and the team, thank you for your vision and congratulations on a job well done. You have been missed while this work has gone on, and I am hoping that the Duo sign on Rolleston Ave means one of my favourite little restaurants will also be back soon.

And I’m really looking forward to Stage 2 as well.
​
The Ngāi Tahu whakatauki speaks to today. Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – for us and our children after us.
No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

​Thank you for the opportunity to speak at this significant event to mark the end of Peter Davie’s tenure as Chief Executive of Lyttelton Port Company.
 
We’re here to acknowledge Peter’s 16 years as Chief Executive of the Company. However, I understand that his association with the port goes back many years earlier and started with his appointment as a marketing junior. He clearly had ambitions for greater things and went on to work in Australian ports for a number of years, for seven of those in the role of CEO.
 
Peter became Chief Executive of Lyttelton Port Company in 2003 and since then he has worked with two Christchurch City Holdings Chief Executives, Bob Lineham and Paul Munro, and three mayors, Garry Moore, Bob Parker and now me.
 
In Peter’s sixteen years with the port, there have been both great challenges and achievements. The greatest challenge was, of course, the response to the earthquakes.  Immediately following the February 2011 quake, the port was only closed for three days. That is an extraordinary achievement.
 
Since then he has led the Port through the development of the Lyttelton Port Recovery Plan and the business case for the redevelopment, which has included a significant component of reclamation.
 
During his time as Chief Executive container volumes have tripled, equating to over half of all South Island container movements.
 
As Peter leaves LPC it is positioned well for the future, with new Berths including the Cruise Berth and an expanded Container Terminal (thanks to the reclamation programme), not to mention the development of a successful inland port in Rolleston. 

The port has also been opened up to the community with the completion of the Te Ana Marina, which is a fantastic facility, of which you can be very proud.

So Peter, I would like to thank you on behalf of the people of Christchurch for your 16 years with Lyttelton Port Company.

And I want to acknowledge Wendie – behind every succesful man I’ve ever known lies an equally successful partner. And you have been no exception.

I wish you both well for the future – I understand sailing may have a significant part to play in that – which feels a perfect way to bring this part of your career to a close.

Recognising too the leadership role you have also played with the Chamber of Commerce, you have made a significant contribution to your city and region, and we are the richer for that.
​
So congratulations on all your achievements and we wish you clear skies, calm seas and a kind wind forever at your back, wherever life takes you.

​Thank you Bishop Peter. 
 
Your Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales,
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and distinguished guests.
 
It is a privilege to welcome your Royal Highness to Otautahi Christchurch on an occasion that is one of celebration.
 
As a city we have all experienced the profoundly personal touch and support from the Royal Family in our times of tragedy, and helping us get through our darkest days.  This has meant more to us than words could ever say.  
 
And today, knowing that Your Royal Highness has taken the time to visit Christ Church Cathedral, which is our direct connection to the Royal Charter of 1856 that gave us our city status, is very special indeed.
 
As well as its spiritual role, this Cathedral has become one of our most important civic places, hosting significant events that have shaped us as a city. 
 
And here we are in our award winning Turanga, our city’s newest civic asset, and whose name speaks to our history before the arrival of the European settlors, looking out at one of our city’s oldest assets. And we are so pleased it is being reinstated.  
 
As we are reminded, when we look at images of the Cathedral when it was first completed, building a Cathedral was a priority for those early European settlors.
 
I feel very strongly that we owe it to their memory to see her reinstated to her former glory.
 
Christ Church Cathedral may not be one of the world’s grandest Cathedrals, but it is intrinsically linked with our city’s identify, and has rich stories embedded in its stonework.
 
Many people say that until the Cathedral is reinstated, the city will not be fully healed. 
 
It is literally the heart and soul of our city.
 
And the reinstatement will breathe new life into Cathedral Square, both preserving an important part of our heritage and enabling the city to move forward.
 
Your Royal Highness, we are deeply grateful for your visit and excited about what the future holds.  Thank you.
 
It now gives me great pleasure to introduce His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales.
 
 

Over the past 20 years SCAPE has worked tirelessly to establish a body of public art that has put Christchurch on the map. This has not been done in isolation but rather in collaboration. Without question it has helped to build our city’s identity and never more so than after the Christchurch Earthquakes.

Public art is something that's available to everyone, not just individual art lovers, which is one of the reasons why I love it. It forms part of a city's identity and offers useful way finders and symbols that just feel like home.

We all have those special works of art that we connect with on a personal level, as we pass them on our way to work or, during our lunch breaks or days when we wander around the city.
So many of these have been brought to us by SCAPE.

Deborah McCormick has been at the helm since its inception – well supported by the incredible teams who are highlighted in this book. Looking at the photos I find it hard to believe that this all started 20 years ago.
 
Magic things have happened as the programme evolved from the ‘unholy alliance of art and commerce’ to the annual festivals we enjoy in spring, and which bring opportunities to explore new artworks in new sites across this city.
It is in this context that we can see the power of art to inspire us and at the same time to challenge us - both personally and as a city.  
The wonderful thing is that our response to art invites us to engage with others, which can lead to conversations about ourselves, who we are and what we value.

SCAPE Public Art brings to our urban landscape a mix of public artworks that reflect diverse cultural origins, reflecting the way we are evolving as a city, and made even more poignant in the face of the tragedies we have experienced.

By embracing diversity - whether in our reaction to art or simply in the way we are open to hearing the stories of our neighbours, both near and far - we foster connection with each other and help build a sense of community that transcends all boundaries.

We know that art has the power to draw us closer to each other and to help us heal when we need to.

So please enjoy the stories in the book that so many of you here tonight have been and always will be part of.

Thank you, Deborah McCormick, and thank you SCAPE Public Art for all you do for our city.

To Warren Feeney, this book is a wonderful record of SCAPE and the rich history of Christchurch’s public art – so far.

We all look forward to seeing what the future of SCAPE has to offer.
And on that note:
​
It gives me great pleasure to officially launch this book; Out There: SCAPE Public Art 1999-2018.
I would now like to welcome forward the author, Warren Feeney.