It’s business as usual for New Zealand, with all main centers welcoming visitors, following November 14’s 7.5-magnitude earthquake in parts of the north and south.
Conventions and Incentives New Zealand is assuring conference organisers that New Zealand is safe to visit with all airports and roads around the key cities in normal operation.
Earthquakes, while unpredictable, are known to New Zealanders, and they are well equipped to deal with them.
The major damage hit 180 kilometres north of Christchurch around rural North Canterbury and Kaikoura, where tragically two people have died. Some roads are still closed and power out in places, however the alpine resort of Hanmer Springs has since reopened.
In Wellington, hotels, cafes, restaurants, conference and meeting venues, as well as major tourism attractions are now open for business. Wellington Airport, Cook Strait ferries, trains; Wellington Zoo, Zealandia, the Wellington Cable Car and Weta Cave are all open too. Engineers confirm Wellington’s inner city has no major structural damages to any tourism-related businesses.
Daily life in major cities Christchurch and Auckland, have gone unaffected. Christchurch airport, hotels and venues are open, and the city is hosting one of its largest ever conference events, the SingularityU New Zealand Summit. Staring yesterday at Horncastle Arena, 1,500 delegates from the world over have attended with all very impressed by the way they have been looked after. Christchurch is a well regarded safe city after undergoing a five-year infrastructure rebuild and strengthening upgrades.
