localeye web portal to be retired

May 13, 2010

localeye.info, a directory of business, news, event and organisational information, is to be retired on 30 June 2010.

The portal was launched in 2002 by Christchurch City Libraries as a free online service.
Christchurch City Council’s Unit Manager for Libraries and Information, Carolyn Robertson, says localeye was set up when global search engines were in their infancy and indexed very few New Zealand websites.

“localeye was able to help people to find businesses and organisations, and to provide a way for local businesses and organisations to be found online,” she says. “The Internet has since matured and many other sites now perform a similar service.”

Relevant community information held on localeye will be migrated onto other Council operated sites such as CINCH Community Information for Christchurch and Canterbury (cinch.org.nz) and the Christchurch City Libraries website (http://christchurchcitylibraries.com).

No further updates will be taken on localeye.info, effective immediately. The site will direct visitors to other sites with relevant information.

“Since search engines have increased their reach, we are now focusing our support for not-for-profits through cinch.org.nz. This includes providing a web presence for the many organisations that do not have their own site,” says Ms Robertson.
Over the years, Christchurch businesses and organisations had given localeye good support, she says. “It is now time for localeye to adapt to changes in the Internet landscape and retire from active service.”