Mainland run a referee development program, with an employee dedicated to promoting and organising. There are courses available throughout the year for people to sign up for. It used to be a requirement of junior teams that one parent had been to the course in order to ref well.
Surely, in all of Christchurch, there would have been more referees available than a 50 year old male and a 15 year old female.
I know and agree with all of that, as well as foal's comment. I repeat the question though: "Which clubs run a referee development program? Ongoing problem that everyone complains about but nobody wants to own and find a solution for".
Football, like every sport, requires referees. Unless clubs stop moaning and start putting in a bit of effort to develop and retain referees within it's own organisations nothing will change.
I believe the illustrious Carey Baird ran a referee school (via Parklands FC), which turned out some fellows who I believe are still doing it. None of their warm up routines for a game are anywhere near as spectacular as CB though...