Acknowledge my fellow councillors Sara Templeton. Pauline Cotter, Mike Davidson, Anne Galloway,
ECan Chair Jenny Hughey and councillors
 
It is great to be here to reinforce our council’s commitment to working with the community, businesses and the Government to reduce our district’s greenhouse gas emissions.
 
We have a 2030 goal to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% of the baseline we established in 2016/17.
 
As you know, the transportation sector is a key source of the district's emissions, estimated at over 50%. On-road petrol and diesel transportation make up 36% of our emissions.
 
So, it is not surprising that transportation is the key target for our emissions reduction planning.
 
We have already been doing a lot of work through encouraging mode shift through our investment in a network of major cycleways, and the connecting routes.
 
And we have invested in “Take Charge Christchurch”, which encourages the uptake of battery electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
 
The two battery electric truck projects being launched today are the sort of collaboration we absolutely need to see. They both demonstrate commitment and innovation from a number of sector stakeholders.
 
I would like to congratulate the nine companies who have invested in these two projects for their leadership and collaboration as well as their financial investment.
 
I acknowledge and thank the Civil Construction and Maintenance Services Project companies - Citycare Property, Fulton Hogan, HEB Construction, Higgins Contractors and Isaac Construction.
 
And the four delivery companies in the Shopping District Battery Electric Truck Delivery Services Project - Bidfood, Hall’s, PBT Transport and Toll New Zealand.
 
I would also like to thank Northlands and Northlink Shopping Centres and Christchurch Airport for their involvement in the shopping district project.
 
And finally, I want to thank FUSO NZ, EECA, EROAD, Mercury NZ and the TR Group for your significant involvement and support.
 
This model of collaboration is how we will reach our emission reduction targets.
 
And now it is my absolute pleasure to officially launch the Civil Construction and Maintenance Services Project and the Shopping District Battery Electric Truck Delivery Services Project.
 
Well done and thank you once more.

Can I acknowledge:
Michael Feiner, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy
Tobias Maletz – President Deutsch in Christchurch
Marie Osment – Vice President Deutsch in Christchurch
Matthew Nichols - Regional Manager, Ministry for Ethnic Communities
Special call out to Rachel Gould, from the Riverside Market

Thank you to the Deutsch in Christchurch for all you do to celebrate your culture and to share that with us at the at this German Mid-Winter Christmas event.

I have been to many events – The celebration of the piece of the Berlin wall, symbol of division - now a symbol of unity across the world.

Thank you Tobias and the team – amazing

Thank you to the whole team for today.

A mid-winter celebration of food and culture unites us, as does Christmas in Germany.

This afternoon I was to fly with SOFIA, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. They have been coming here since I was first elected Mayor. It is a collaboration between NASA and the German Space Agency. The mission concludes with my mayoralty but I mention it because it represents the very best of science and co-operation. And that sense of unity is what today is all about.

Lastly I have a smidgeon of German blood running through my veins, thanks to my paternal grandmother’s forebears.

Schönes Wochenende, have a great weekend 

​Vielen Dank
 

Acknowledgements:
MP Dr Duncan Webb
Glenn Livingstone, Rata

Can I acknowledge Tūranga – this amazing place that enables events like this. The Canterbury Somali Association and the amazing artists – eight women with an age range from 20 to 70, who have created Gurigeena Our Home – Ō tātou Kāinga.  And also Janet Molyneaux, a wonderful artist and art teacher, who has nurtured the talent we see on display.

The story that sits in behind this extraordinary exhibition is why I wanted to be here today.

We have had a Somali Community in our city for over 30 years, as our Refugee Resettlement Service reached out to help the international effort to support people displaced by the civil war.  A significant number left after the earthquakes and we are seeing some return now, alongside the refugees we are again welcoming here.

This exhibition is a turning point for the community and has enabled these women to connect with the healing Power of art.

Gurigeena is our home – our home Somalia and our home Ōtautahi Christchurch.
​
This exhibition is a beautiful expression of home – our home together.
Congratulations! And now it is my pleasure to officially open Gurigeena Our Home – Ō tātou Kāinga.