Another step forward in Christchurch rebuild

Continental Event Hire was approached mid-March 2011 to supply a marquee for the large boarding facility after building inspectors red stickered the existing building following the Canterbury earthquakes.

Hires manager Andy Youngman recalls the meeting was on a Tuesday and they needed the operating kitchen completed fitted out by the following Monday: “It was pretty crazy but we did it.”

It was estimated the University would need the marquee for around 12months.

“Prior to the earthquakes a hire of four weeks was considered ‘long term’ so we were pretty impressed! But the eventual actual hire of four years and five months might be something of a record.”

Once the 12 x 20m Alispan marquee is dismantled the whole set-up including the kitchen equipment is going to Invercargill for similar use.