Christchurch population will come back: Mayor

Christchurch mayor Bob Parker. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Christchurch mayor Bob Parker has no fears of a population decline in his quake-ravaged city, saying the challenge will be coping with its growth in coming years.

It has been estimated that up to 60,000 of Christchurch's residents fled the city after the killer February 22 quake, though many have since returned as the frightening aftershocks have died down. While no accurate figures are available, ANZ economists have said Christchurch could shed 4 per cent of its residents, or nearly 15,000 people, this year.

The real estate industry says Christchurch property sales were "far beyond expectations" in March, and Mr Parker thinks the city will prove more desirable than ever once the city's rebuild gets into full swing.

"A few will stay away, that's just life. My view is that in two to three years' time, the issue in Christchurch won't be losing population. It will be in the number of people that will want to choose to live here."

People were rethinking their views of safety in the wake of natural disasters around the world, and Christchurch would be rebuilt as one of the world's safest cities, Mr Parker said.

"As the rebuild begins ... we are going to have a lot of people coming here looking for work. We'll have people who have left deciding to come back as well. But my feeling is that the vast majority of people have remained in the city, or are planning to come back to the city. So I don't have any worries at all about the future of this city. I think our future is extraordinarily bright."

Christchurch-based Real Estate Institute director David Rankin said sales in greater Christchurch in March, including conditional sales, were likely to add up to over 300. This was far beyond expectations given the severe impact of the quake. Sales in March would normally be about 700 to 800.

Prices seemed to be generally holding up well, he said.

"It's very easy to focus on the devastation, which has been huge, but by in large the western suburbs of the city have come through relatively unscathed, as have a lot of properties in the eastern suburbs."

Although about 25,000 homes were in no shape to go on the property market, there was still about 100,000 that were, Mr Rankin said.

"There is a strong willingness of people to get on with their lives."

Section sales are booming on the perceived safer west side of Christchurch, with 36 sections having been sold at two developments on the western outskirts in the six weeks since the earthquake.

Hamish Wheelans, of Gillman Wheelans Ltd - which is developing both subdivisions, said the number of sales recorded since the earthquake was the equivalent of half an average year's trading.

"These sales are significantly related to the earthquake. The fact that both of these developments were totally clear of liquefaction in both earthquakes has much appeal."

"The people we have talked to just want to get on with life. They are keen to get started on their new home and don't want to have to compete with the market later in the year when the rebuild programme gets under way in earnest."