What’s on in Christchurch this weekend and beyond
Armageddon Expo comes to Ōtautahi
❚ When: Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14, 9am to 5pm both days
❚ Where: Te Pae, Oxford Tce, Christchurch Get ready for a weekend of pop culture mayhem as Armageddon Expo descends upon Ōtautahi. Among the guests are Doctor Who companion Catherine Tate, Charmed actor Holly Marie Combs, Lord of the Rings actor John Noble, and Demon Slayer voice actor Abby Trott.
The expo also promises to showcase the best in gaming, technology, cosplay and contests, and there’ll be a massive range of stalls selling geeky art, crafts, collectibles and comics.
Tickets are available from iTicket.
The Music is Bond
❚ When: Tonight, 7.30pm
❚ Where: Town Hall, Christchurch Prepare to be transported into the world of James Bond with The Music is Bond. Experience the iconic soundtracks that have defined the Bond legacy, conducted by Tim Beveridge and performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and soloists Lavina Williams, Caitlin Smith, and Naomi Ferguson. From the enchanting melodies of Goldfinger to the adrenaline-filled rhythm of Live and Let Die, this concert will pay homage to the composers and artists who have contributed to the Bond legacy over the years.
Tickets available from Ticketek.
Free family aerospace event
❚ When: Saturday, April 13, 9.30am to 4pm
❚ Where: Air Force Museum of New Zealand, 45 Harvard Ave, Wigram, Christchurch
Join the Christchurch Rocketeers for Yuri’s Night International Space Event, celebrating the history of human spaceflight. This family-friendly event offers a range of activities, including planetarium exploration, rocket workshops, and a rocket launch at 1pm (weather permitting). Engage with interactive displays, learn about the wonders of space exploration, and meet fellow space enthusiasts.
Admission is free.
Encountering Aotearoa
❚ When: Saturday, April 13 to August 25
❚ Where: Christchurch Art Gallery, Montreal St, Christchurch Developed, toured and led by artist Cora-Allan, this major body of new work reflects on her recent two-week voyage by sea around Aotearoa. Using whenua-pigment, hiapo (barkcloth) and other resources from the ngahere (forest), she documented the shapes and views of the whenua of Aotearoa from the perspective of the moana. Encountering Aotearoa builds on Cora-Allan’s research into the artists and botanists aboard the Endeavour during its maiden voyage in 1769, responding to the legacy of colonial mapping and recording practices and early encounters between Māori and Pākehā.
Body Mind Spirit – Holistic Health Expo
❚ When: Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14, 10am to 5pm both days
❚ Where: Pioneer Stadium, 75 Lyttelton St, Christchurch
Whether you’re seeking information, inspiration, inner peace or mental stimulation, the Body Mind Spirit – Holistic Health Expo invites you to embrace your body, clear your mind, and connect with your spirit. Engage with experts in alternative therapies, natural remedies, spiritual healing and sustainable living, and attend free inspirational workshops and seminars. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to holistic health, this expo offers something for everyone to explore.
Tickets are available from the Body Mind Spirit website.
Methven Scarecrow Trail
❚ When: Saturday, April 13 to April 28
❚ Where: Methven iHub Information Centre or Four Square Supermarket Embark on a whimsical adventure through Methven’s Scarecrow Trail, running throughout the April school holidays. Inspired by children’s movies, this year's trail features a variety of characters brought to life by first-time scarecrow makers. Get your trail map/entry form for $10 per group (up to five people) and see how many characters you can find and identify. You can also vote for your favourite scarecrow, as there are prizes for the best creations.
The Vintage Fair North Canterbury
❚ When: Sunday, April 14, 11am to 3pm
❚ Where: Rangiora Racecourse, 312 Lehmans Rd
Step into a world of nostalgia and charm at the Vintage Fair. Browse through stalls offering vintage clothing, retro décor and collectibles, indulge in treats from food vendors, and enjoy live music performances throughout the day.
Admission is free.
Belgian pianist performing in Christchurch
❚ When: Sunday, April 14, 7.30pm
❚ Where: The Piano, Armagh St, Christchurch Internationally-acclaimed Belgian pianist Daniel Verstappen’s Reconnection World Tour blends classical elegance with contemporary innovation, promising an evening of musical brilliance. With his ability to inspire young musicians through classical music, Verstappen has garnered global recognition, captivating audiences at prestigious venues around the world.
Tickets are available from Eventfinda.
Lunchtime music
❚ When: Monday, April 15, 1.10pm
❚ Where: Arts Centre Great Hall, Worcester Blvd, Christchurch
Formed by a group of seasoned musicians, the River City Jazzmen bring their blend of traditional jazz and swing to the stage. The band features Neill Pickard on banjo and vocals, Michael Fairhurst on trumpet and cornet, Allan Hawes on clarinet, Glyn MacDonald on trombone and piano, Dave Pitt on double bass, and Louie Moverley on drums.
Tickets are available from the Arts Centre’s website.
Fifty Years of Dragon
❚ When: Thursday, April 18, 7pm
❚ Where: Christchurch Town Hall Founded in 1973, Dragon have left an indelible mark on the music industry with their timeless hits like Rain, April Sun in Cuba, and Are You Old Enough? Join Todd Hunter and the band as they take you on a journey through their illustrious career. With special guests Hello Sailor joining them, this promises to be a special experience for fans.
Tickets are available from Ticketek.
The development and uptake of new technologies to reduce carbon emissions could be speeded-up with more government involvement, the country’s peak technology industry association says.
NZTech said in a report released yesterday that a “climate technology roadmap” could encourage more investment in carbon-abating technologies but would need both industry and political support to be a success.
“Ideally, a government agency would administer the drive for a climate technology roadmap, but it should also have oversight from a collaboration of industry, government, Māori and research institutions,” its report said.
New Zealand was not on track to meet its emissions reduction targets, NZTech said.
“Despite making important steps and increasing activity across New Zealand, officials have reported to Cabinet that the country will not meet the first emissions budget,” it said. “The global climate action body Climate Action Tracker has also assessed New Zealand’s climate response as ‘highly insufficient’.”
NZTech’s report was published as the price of carbon credits continued to languish at $52 – well down on their 18-month high of $88.50.
The slump in the price of carbon credits makes it correspondingly cheaper to release carbon emissions into the atmosphere and less economic to investment in abatement measures.
NZTech noted that the Environment Ministry had estimated that, as it stood, the country might need to spend between $8.8 billion and $20.6b on overseas carbon credits to meet the emissions-reduction target it had agreed to reach by 2030.
“Although New Zealand is a world leader in its use of renewable energy, in 2021 New Zealand had 16.9 tonnes of carbon-dioxide per capita – the sixth highest emissions per capita of OECD countries.”
NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller agreed it could be more tempting to talk-up the potential of new technologies to abate emissions than to accept sacrifices had to be made.
But he noted that telecommunications company Spark had estimated that digital technologies had the potential to cut New Zealand’s carbon emissions by 7.2 million tonnes a year by 2030, which would achieve 40% of the country’s targeted reductions.
Spark was counting on developments such as the increased uptake of online services cutting travel, robotics in agriculture reducing waste, and “smart” meters and appliances reducing the current reliance on fossil fuels to meet peak electricity demand.
Reports could be “blah, blah, blah”, but technology roadmaps had been useful in encouraging innovation and investment in countries such as the UK that had a good recent track record in reducing emissions, Muller said.
The Government spent a lot of money supporting research and development “but what it wasn’t asking is ‘do you want emissions reductions with that?’,” he said.
“A bit more of a co-ordinated, ‘signalling’ approach will help with international investment and private investment.”
NZTech’s study listed a number of possible “quick wins” that the technology industry could help deliver.
These included using anaerobic digestion facilities to turn agricultural and animal waste into biogas, adding more battery storage systems to the power grid and increasing financial support for companies developing low-carbon cement.
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts said in a foreword to the NZTech report that the scale of transformation required to meet the country’s targets meant they could only be achieved by the public and private sectors working hand in hand.