CHRISTCHURCH - An 8-plex, 2,800 seat cinema is planned for the Riccarton
area. It will be part of the Riccarton Mall $200m expansion project. Construction
is planned to begin in 1999 and planned to open Easter 2000. When opened
the ratio of screens to population for Christchurch will be one screen
for 9,200 persons, compared to the USA ratio of 1 screen per 11,000, and
the rest of New Zealand at one screen per 13,000 persons. Christchurch
currently has 29 screens serving a population of 340,000. Operators are
believed to be Hoyts Cinemas NZ. (3/08/1998)
CHRISTCHURCH - Plans have been announced to add another screen to
the Hollywood twin at sumner.
PALMERSTON - The Metropolis Group, of Dunedin, have offered to bring
the cinema to this East Otago town (pop: 846) if the community helped provide
the necessary equipment. Mr Peter van de Klundert, joint owner, said if
the local people were prepared to raise funds to buy a screen, modern cinema
seats, projection equipment, sound system, etc, then his company would
be interested in operating the cinema. Palmerston former cinema, in the
Town Hall, opened in the 1920s, closed in 1971. The "new" cinema
is planned to be located in the Sports Hall. (3/08/1998)
QUEENSTOWN - Plans were announced to increase the screens at the
Embassy to three. Two new screens will be built in the former Queenstown
Supermarket. The new cinemas will be operated as part of the Embassy Cinema
Complex.