Two concerts featuring international artists will go ahead at Canterbury Arena later in the week, which is being cleaned up after a fire at the weekend.
John Farnham. Photo: AAP
The fire and sprinkler damage, which happened in the early hours of Saturday morning, forced the cancellation of the three-day Rebuild and Renovate home show at which 160 companies were exhibiting after only one day. The fire started at a spa pool stand.
Vbase operates the arena on behalf of the Christchurch City Council, and general manager Darren Burden said it was being cleaned and would be open tomorrow.
Concerts by Lionel Ritchie and John Farnham on Thursday and Queens of the Stone Age and Nine Inch Nails on Saturday would go ahead as planned, he said.
Home show event director Amanda Magnus said the financial loss for exhibitors would be several millions of dollars, as some companies expected to secure six to 12 months work through the show.
One company, Flooring Central Canterbury, said it had lost at least $200,000.