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Listen to some amazing business owners as they share their learnings, challenges and more on The Bold Company podcast, from Business Canterbury.

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Canterbury Trusted recognises businesses committed to leading with trust, integrity and responsibility in our region, as awarded by Business Canterbury.

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ABOUT ADVOCACY

Business Canterbury's advocacy work programme ensures our members’ views are represented on policies and decisions at a local and national level.

LEARN MORE 

THE CANTERBURY AMBITION

Developed by Business Canterbury, led by businesses in our region and supported by the Canterbury Mayoral Forum.

LEARN MORE 

YOUR ADVOCACY HUB NEW

Everything we do to represent, inform, and advocate for Canterbury business in one place, including:

Media commentary & coverage
Submissions & policy work
Quarterly Business Survey Reports
Minister & senior official engagements

EXPLORE THE HUB →

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No one does networking like Business Canterbury. Check out our events designed to engage, inform and help you expand your network.

Visit our Eventbrite page to

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DON'T MISS HOT

Back to Business 2026

Thu 12 Feb | Kick off your new business year at Business Canterbury’s annual Back to Business, network and gain insights to help you plan ahead.

from $45+GST early bird pricing →

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The Canterbury Ambition

Developed by Business Canterbury, led by businesses in our region and supported by the Canterbury Mayoral Forum.

PROJECT
Fully responsive website design, implementation and optimization
WHAT WE DID
UI/UX Design, Coding, SEO Optimization
CLIENT
Name of the Client here www.clientsite.com
TIMELINE
Start August 2019, 3 Weeks Design, 6 Weeks Coding

A private sector led ambition for Canterbury

Since September 2024, Business Canterbury, the Canterbury Mayoral Forum and local businesses have come together to form a shared ambition for our region. The progress we have made toward the goal of a shared ambition – in bringing the private and public sectors together from right across Canterbury – has created the conversations and conditions for alignment and clarity.

The Canterbury Ambition is proudly supported by BECA & the Canterbury Mayoral Forum.

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Exploring the Canterbury Ambition

In this short video, hear one voice explain the Canterbury Ambition — what it is, why it matters, and how it’s guiding the future of our region. A simple, straightforward look at the vision and the priorities shaping Canterbury today.

Canterbury's Strengths

Canterbury is a region where economic growth and liveability thrive together. The Ambition exists to ensure that prosperity, innovation, and quality of life continue to advance in balance.

🏡 Opportunity without trade-offs

Succeed in business while raising a family, with one of the most affordable, high-amenity lifestyles in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy proximity to nature, world-class recreational options, and safe, welcoming communities.

✈️ Connectivity

A globally connected region with international airport, deep-water ports, and leading universities. Local businesses have access to global markets, research partnerships, and talent pipelines.

🤝 Collaboration

Strong alignment across business, mana whenua, education, and civic leadership allows the region to move confidently and at pace, creating an ecosystem where innovation and community development thrive together.

🚀 Growth Sectors

Home to advanced manufacturing, aerospace, smart tourism, and other high-tech industries that attract investment, drive innovation, and create high-quality employment.

Momentum & Vision

To accelerate this momentum, we must act now. We must invest ahead of demand in infrastructure, particularly around energy and connectivity. We must protect and evolve our competitive advantage in housing affordability and lifestyle. And we must modernise and align the regulatory settings that enable us to innovate, attract investment, and grow so we can continue to enhance our reputation for solving the world’s big problems here.

Canterbury is growing and ready now. Ready to lead and to shape the next chapter of New Zealand’s story – a chapter where innovation and growth is grounded in liveability and the environment.

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Why does Canterbury need this ambition?

This ambition sets out what makes Canterbury unique, and the key ingredients for long-term success. These stem from the recognition that strong businesses and strong communities are innately linked to our environment, lifestyle, and capacity for innovation.

What is the purpose of this document?

This is a living document, primarily intended to communicate a high-level collective ambition to the business community, government (local and central), and global markets. It also acts as an advocacy tool for the private sector and local government to communicate opportunities and priorities for Canterbury.

How does it support growth and partnership?

It provides a clear and credible foundation for future growth, whether through a Regional Deal or other opportunities. More importantly, it gives Canterbury a common starting point and a platform for continued partnership between the private sector and local government who will ultimately enable the ambition.

How will Canterbury benefit?
 

As Canterbury evolves, so too will this ambition. But what won’t change is our commitment to making Canterbury one of the best places in the world to test ideas, grow businesses, and build a great life.

Ambition Pillars & Priorites

The Canterbury Ambition is built on three interconnected pillars, each underpinning a key priority for the region’s growth.

 

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TOUCH
Environment
Environment

PRIORITY 1

Growing responsibly, protecting our natural assets, and investing in resilient energy and infrastructure. Ensuring Canterbury has the infrastructure needed to support growth, innovation, and resilience.

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TOUCH
Innovation
Innovation

PRIORITY 2

Creating the conditions for businesses to test ideas, scale solutions, attract talent, and solve global challenges. Aligning and modernising regulatory settings to support innovation, investment, and growth.

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TOUCH
Lifestyle
Lifestyle

PRIORITY 3

Protecting housing affordability, liveability, and the quality of life that makes Canterbury competitive. Maintaining Canterbury’s competitive edge as a place where people can live well and work well.

 

Process & Measurement

Where we are now is just the starting point for further conversations. Business Canterbury is working with the private sector and local government to turn this ambition into action. Progress will be tracked using the evidence outlined below. If you want to be kept updated, join the mailing list.

PROGRESS EVIDENCED BY

  • Alignment in regulations and standards across the region.
  • Targeted Foreign Direct Investment attraction aligned across the region.
  • Regional Spatial Plan completed with a focus on housing affordability and efficient business zoning.
  • Long-term infrastructure and roading plans aligned and consenting frameworks in place.
  • Energy strategy aligned across the region with a common consenting framework.

MEASURED AGAINST*

  • Housing affordability median multiple is X (median house price versus median income).
  • Time to consent X% below national average or cost of consenting (to councils and business X% lower).
  • X% increase in Foreign Direct Investment penetration across the region.
  • X% uplift in infrastructure activity across the region.
  • X% of infrastructure pipeline funded and consented.

*These figures are to be developed in the next stages of the work.

CHALLENGES

  • Relatively low budget for design, implementation and marketing
  • 8-week time constraint for the whole project
  • Website must match existing digital corporate identity
  • Website should be deeply integrated into the HubSpot solution
  • Design & development from scratch is not feasible
  • Customer would like to be able to edit content and structure
  • Website must be implemented in three languages
  • Webdesign must match modern design standards
Intro Title

RESULTS

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"When you head on out to the Moon, in very short order, and you get a chance to look back at the Earth, that horizon slowly curves around in upon himself, and all of sudden you are looking at something that is very strange, but yet is very, very familiar, because you are beginning to see the Earth evolve."
Gene CernanAstronaut, Apollo 17

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Have a question or enquiry?

If you have questions about the Canterbury Ambition, want to get involved, or would like more information, we’d love to hear from you. Please complete the form below and Tait will be in touch.

 

TAIT DENCH - BLOG

 

Tait Dench
Head of Advocacy and Strategy
email: taitd@businesscanterbury.co.nz
phone: 027 548 3551