We believe the Hāpai Access Card fits well with the CCBA’s strategic plan:

• With a commitment to members’ businesses being accessible to people with a disability we will attract them and their families to the CBD. Cllr Aaron Keown said at the card’s launch back in December that he wants to work towards Christchurch being the #1 destination to vacation for people with disabilities. The card will be national - the initial focus is Canterbury - and is part of an international scheme so cards are valid in other countries. Studies in the UK have shown the untapped revenue potential from this sector.
• There are legal requirements that businesses must reach which go beyond physical access. The Minister for Disability is working towards tighter laws around this area, and adoption of the Hāpai Access Card will help members be compliant.
• With the 2013 census showing that 23% of New Zealanders have some sort of disability, this is an area of great and practical interest to many Kiwis. Being part of the card will demonstrate CCBA’s desire to support all our customers.

Registration of a business is free, but it must look at the nine barriers that the card identifies and create a response that either reduces or eliminates the barriers. This response must be understood by the employees, but it is not complex and is likely to improve customer care across the board as employees become more customer-centric.

The Hāpai Access Card has a team that can assist in the above process and the result of this work is the creation of a web page for each business, with a description of the business, any offers to card members, and the business’s response to each of the barriers. Photos, and where possible, a video walkthrough is included on the web page with the aim of giving the cardholder confidence to visit. Cardholders can view these web pages via a variety of channels, including a map.
 
Feedback by cardholders is via a closed FB page, and the Hāpai Access Card will communicate positive and negative feedback.

Christchurch Super Slam
Free to enter the event

Central City will experience NZ's best beach volleyballers battling on the sand while our DJ pumps the tunes.

The G.J. Gardner Homes NZ Beach Tour is coming to Cathedral Square for the first time ever with the Christchurch Super Slam to be held February 19-21. 3 days of elite beach volleyball action on 240 tonnes of sand that will be trucked into the square to make an international-sized beach court! 

NZ's top beach athletes including Commonwealth Games bronze medallists, Sam and Ben O'Dea will be turning up the heat.

Competitions, crowd giveaways, and a dynamic entertainment event.

They would love our businesses to get involved by offering product prizes or vouchers that they can use in our crowd engagement. This will not only get your business mentioned on the sound system to the crowd but will help drive people to your business. And in turn, it helps their event be more dynamic. We really hope this event will help to bring more life to the city! 

For further information or to get involved contact: 
Kate Allan e: kateallan6390@gmail.com or m: 020 4100 3586

Friday: 12 - 8pm
Saturday: 9am - 7pm
Sunday: Semifinals 10am - 2pm, finals 2pm and 3pm.

REMINDER - to support the upcoming Pride Week.

There are currently over 200 events planned for Pride week and we are wanting Central City businesses to come on board and get behind the event by adding some rainbow colours to their businesses to show support.  

The event we are supporting is the FriGay Drinks on the 5th March and ask that you consider adding rainbow colours to your business as they are expecting anywhere from 300 - 600 people, so it would be great to make them feel welcome. 

We are partnering with the Christchurch Foundation and looking to run a best-dressed business competition. Details are still to be finalised. 

If you need some support do not hesitate to contact me and we can help hook you up with some decorative support.