Parker: Christchurch facing 'glorious challenge'

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker. Photo / NZ Herald

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says the city is facing a "glorious challenge in the most difficult of times".

Speaking today at the opening of the Christchurch City Council's first meeting since the February 22 earthquake, Mr Parker said the city faced some very hard decisions to come but would need to act swiftly if the city was to survive.

"This city will have to fight for its place in the sun again," Mr Parker said.

"This is an utterly and absolutely unprecedented time in the history of not only this city but the country.

"Very few cities.... have had to come to terms with the scale of events that are in front of us.

"The need for us as a city to be able to work quickly towards solving the massive issues that are in front of us is directly linked to the ability of this city to survive into the future.

"We need to be swift and sure in the actions we take in the coming months.

"Unnecessary delay would, in a cumulative way, impact on the ability of the city to get up and running."

While the state of emergency still exists, Mr Parker said he looked forward to the day when the city could move to a state of real recovery.

"But we still don't have clarity on that.

"It may be two weeks away, three weeks away."

Mr Parker praised the tireless work of city councillors and citizens across the city.

"The real story of what has happened in Christchurch is the heroic story at the grass roots level, which is neighbour working with neighbour.

"It is the people in the west driving to the east to help.

"It is the communities, right across this city, that have shown a stoicism and courage in the face of the most dreadful situation."

The Council meeting opened with a moment of silence for those who lost their lives in the quake.