All New Zealand is in a state of shock at the destruction of the South Island Capital City Christchurch. The loss of lives and the collapse of Christchurch’s historic buildings is being reported as New Zealand’s darkest hour. It is being recommended by Civil Defence that people should consider moving away Christchurch until things get back to normal. There will be some people that may want to move out of the earthquake zone but don’t know where to go.
Timaru Host
I’m sure that there are many people in Timaru that would open their homes to the victims if asked to do so and if I was the Mayor of Timaru I would be appealing to the public to do just that.
Many Christchurch people have lost their businesses and their lively hood and yet there are many empty Timaru commercial building that can house offices, factories and retail premises and if I was the president of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce I would be appealing to local members of the chamber to offer their surplus commercial properties to the Christchurch earthquake victims.
Timaru as a Capital City
In the long term people are going to make a decision do they rebuild their lives in a city known for its earthquakes or do the move away to a safer haven such as Timaru. If the South Island was to rebuild a new capital City then Timaru would be the ideal place to do it for 7 important reasons.
- Timaru has a deep water port for container shipping and passenger liners
- Timaru has a good airport with plenty of flat land for expansion
- Timaru is centrally located on State Highway one in the middle of the South Island
- Timaru has the infrastructure and the recreational facilities to become a popular tourist resort
- Timaru has Edwardian/Victorian historic buildings similar to what Christchurch has lost
- Timaru has plenty of land at both ends of the City to build an industrial park
- Timaru has historic commercial buildings in the central business area that could be restored
Challenge to Timaru Citizens
My wife and I are willing to make our home available to 2 or 3 Christchurch earthquake victims and we challenge all other Timaru citizens to do the same.
