Christchurch: A tale of two cities

“We are in a privileged position to be able to help,” says Frank Owen, Managing Director of Tait Radio Communications, which specialises in critical communications for public safety, utilities and transport customers.

Tait has 870 employees around the world with 630 based at its headquarters near Christchurch Airport.  With no structural problems, it is hosting a number of its business suppliers previously located in the central business district.

“It is a tale of two cities,” says Mr Owen.

“Many exporters in ‘Business Park Christchurch’ to the west escaped major impact while some, especially those in downtown Christchurch, were hugely affected.”

Tait employees supplied specially-built radios and were able to re-programme the radios brought in by international rescue teams when they arrived in Christchurch.

“The Tait team is resilient, just like our customers and our solutions,” says Mr Owen.

The New Zealand-owned communications company, with offices in North America, Australia, United Kingdom and Austria, remains committed to its founding base in Canterbury, adds Mr Owen.

“We will be doing our bit to help other businesses as the region recovers. The purpose of the company remains to bring long lasting benefits to our customers and the community.”

Tait does not use suppliers from only one location, as part of its risk management policy.

“We have no areas where there are component shortages,” says the Managing Director. Tait exports via air freight so its deliveries have not been affected.

Tait has moved quickly to reassure its international customers that it is open for business, by putting information on its website, and getting in touch with all major customers and answering all their questions preemptively.

For some Christchurch export businesses, it was a good time to jump on a plane and go and see valued customers.

Bryn Thompson, CEO of  Metalcraft - The Glass Racking Company, a world leading solutions provider to the flat glass and window industries as well as manufacturing glass and window factory handling and transportation systems, is currently travelling in America seeing companies face-to-face to ensure their support continues.

“We need to keep in front of customers to make sure they still order from us and not another supplier that may be closer to them. Our concern is that the world could think Christchurch is closed,” says Mr Thompson.

The company's main manufacturing factory based in Harewood, Christchurch, has come through the 22 February quake without loss, he says.

“Our building was undamaged as we had made repairs from the September 2010 quake.”

Inevitably, there has been fall out.

“We sent all staff home to be with families. Some of our staff have lost their homes due to the quake. The three days following were very difficult - we could not open as staff were unable to attend due to their family needs.”

Unfortunately Metalcraft's Christchurch suppliers have not been as fortunate and this is affecting the company's ability to deliver product.

“We opened on the following Monday with 75 percent of the staff, but our supply chain has been damaged due to many of our local suppliers still struggling to get up and running because of major damage to their buildings and plants.”

Mr Thompson is unable to and reluctant, anyway, to find other suppliers at short notice.