Keeping Christchurch’s public amenities clean for the community

Every day, thousands of people enjoy some of Christchurch’s best-known places, from Cathedral Square and Margaret Mahy Family Playground to the Botanic Gardens. Behind the scenes, Citycare Property team members help keep public amenities, including toilets, community barbecues and drinking fountains, clean, safe and ready to use. For almost 15 years, Amenity Cleaner Jerry Gonzaga has been one of them. 

At busy destinations such as the Botanic Gardens, which welcomes more than a million visitors each year, that work makes a visible difference. During summer, the toilets are cleaned three times a day. 

“I need to be vigilant and always careful. Safety is important to the job that we do,” Jerry says. He carefully drives through the busy gardens, bringing cleaning supplies close to the facilities he looks after. 

The Botanic Gardens is Jerry’s largest and busiest site. With playgrounds nearby and a steady flow of local and international visitors, he plans his rounds carefully, starting early and returning later in the day to keep the facilities clean and welcoming. 

“Sometimes I feel like a tour guide,” he says with a laugh. “I love chatting to people from all over the world and helping them find their way.” 

The work can be demanding, but Jerry finds plenty to enjoy in the place he helps care for. Standing among the trees, he says, “I mean, look at this place. It’s very beautiful here.” 

Jerry’s journey to Christchurch began far from New Zealand. After working for several years in the Middle East, he returned to the Philippines to run his own business. When his wife saw an opportunity for nurses in New Zealand, the couple decided it could be their chance to start a new life. They moved here in 2010 and made Christchurch home. 

Jerry joined Citycare Property in 2011 and will soon celebrate 15 years with the company. 

“I enjoy the job, and I feel well looked after by the company and my supervisor,” he says. 

“The company is open to people from different backgrounds.” 

Because he lives in the community he serves, Jerry understands that every clean facility contributes to how people experience the city. Whenever he is out on the job, he sees himself as a representative of Citycare Property. 

“I give it my best and make sure I’m always professional and respectful.” 

Jerry’s pride in his work reflects the care our amenity cleaners bring to communities across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula every day. As members of the communities they serve, they help make the city’s public spaces clean, welcoming and enjoyable for locals and visitors alike.