Friday 27 June 2014

World Bank asks Mayor to address international forum in London

Mayor Lianne Dalziel is heading to London today at the invitation of the World Bank to address an international forum on “Understanding Risk - Producing Actionable Information”.

She will speak at the forum on Monday 30 June about “Understanding Urban Risk and Building Resilient Cities”. The Mayor will also take part in the London launch of a World Bank-associated project titled “Learning from Megadisasters” and “Learning from Crisis” which runs from 30 June - 3 July.

“I am honoured to be asked to take part in such an important international forum. Living in a post-earthquake environment means I have come to understand that we can no longer predict with any certainty what challenges we will face in the future, so it is vital that we help communities build resilience,” she says.

“I will be sharing stories about my introduction to the world of disaster risk reduction and the work our city will be doing in the area of resilience as part of the Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resilient Cities Network.

“I’ll be reflecting on the last four years and how this can best be described as my journey of discovery – from welfare state to resilient nation.”

While in the United Kingdom, the Mayor will also travel to Dorset where she will visit the Council’s sister city, Christchurch.

“I look forward to meeting with my counterpart and Councillors where I’ll be acknowledging the support that their city gave to ours in response to the 22 February 2011 earthquake,” she says.

“A poignant part of this visit will be the laying of a wreath at Brockenhurst Cemetery in memory of the 93 New Zealand soldiers from the First World War who are buried there.”

The Mayor’s travel costs are being met by the World Bank and she will be staying privately in London.

She will return home to Christchurch on 10 July.

ENDS

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