The opening weekend saw over 2000 people coming down to check out New Zealand’s first Home Innovation Village. Many of the visitors were Cantabrians but some had come from as far afield as Australia.

Guests included Mayor Bob Parker, Labour MP Leanne Dalziel, local council members and Deon Swiggs from Rebuild Canterbury.

“Ideas, solutions and inspiration are here for people," said Parker. "Everyone should come and have a look at this because it’s not just for those people who are immediately looking for a solution. It might be that those who find a solution here didn’t know they were looking for it.

“Every time we take a step forward like this it lifts our spirits. We need to be able to picture that there’s a future.”

“I think this venue is really important…it’s an opportunity to come and see what all the options might look like,” said Dalziel. “I’ve seen some pretty exciting options here today...These are all houses built with sustainability in mind and with our new seismic risk in mind. I know, going into any one of these houses, I feel safe.”

The Christchurch City Council has given its full support to HIVE and it is not the only group to see the benefits this village could bring. HIVE has the support of over 25 sponsors including platinum sponsors Resene, Meridian Energy, Winstone Wallboards and Homestyle Magazine.

The village will eventually have 10 innovative, prebuilt show homes for visitors to take a look at. For the opening there were four houses on show as part of the first stage of the village. The next stages will roll out over the coming months, with six more houses to join the village.

HIVE is open seven days a week from 12-4pm until February 2012, at the Canterbury Agricultural Park (off Curletts Road).