Christchurch has brought together four other cities which are gateways to Antarctica in a new partnership designed to promote cooperation and collaboration.

Mayors and representatives from the cities of Hobart (Australia), Cape Town (South Africa), Ushuaia (Argentina) and Punta Arenas (Chile) along with Christchurch signed the Gateways Cities Statement of Intent at Riccarton House today (Friday 25 September).

The collaboration seeks to build on the existing sense of friendship between the cities, and aims to maintain and enhance international relations, promote innovation and avoid duplication.

Deputy Mayor Cr Norm Wither, representing Mayor Bob Parker, signed for Christchurch.

"It is our goal in bringing together the Southern Rim Gateway cities partnership to combine their expertise and business networks in ways that will be to our mutual benefit and which will enhance work done in Antarctica," says Cr Withers.

Christchurch, which has developed wide-ranging expertise in cold-climate operations over the past 50 years, has a network of over 50 businesses operating under the Canterbury Antarctic Business Interest Network (CABIN) to provide services to international Antarctica programmes.

"As Gateway Cities, we have opportunities for collaboration and cooperation, and Christchurch looks forward to exploring these fully with other Gateway Cities," says Cr Withers.

"Our responsibilities require us to stay true to the values of the 1959 Antarctica Treaty, in working together to preserve forever the continent of Antarctica for the common good. The New Zealand Government has committed itself to the conservation of Antarctica, and the Southern Ocean, for the benefit of every country and for the present and future generations of New Zealanders. The city of Christchurch is determined to live up to this commitment," he says.