The Prime Minister, John Key, showed the plan for the new Christchurch city to the council and business people. This is the blueprint which a group of architects and planners designed in 100 days. Most people who saw the plan today were excited by it.

　　The new city will be smaller than before. There will be more green spaces – parks and cycle ways. On both sides of the Avon River will be wide park areas. There will also be a north-south park, one block wide and seven blocks long from the polytech to the river and an east-west block from the polytech to the hospital. These green areas will be the frame for the city. The Square in the centre of the city will also have an area of grass.

　　There will be a number of precincts so that similar activities can be grouped together. The Health precinct will include the hospital and other health facilities. The performing arts precinct will have the Town Hall and the Court Theatre. Near this precinct will be a convention centre and hotels.

　　The plan is contained in a 120 page document. You can download this yourself at Christchurch City Blueprint.

　　More than 1000 buildings have been demolished in the CBD already since the earthquakes. Very soon, it will be time to rebuild the city.

　　Vocabulary

　　blueprint – plan

　　frame – a picture can have a frame around it. Christchurch city will have park areas around it.

　　precinct – area

　　contained – held inside; container (n) for holding something e.g. a bottle is a container for water.

　　CBD – Central business district