On 12 February, we hosted Back to Business, our first major event of the year, at Parakiore Sports and Recreation Centre. It was fantastic to get together and kick off the year with so many people from our local business community
Photography by Victoria Ellison
Key Highlights from Leeann Watson’s Speech
Canterbury’s strong economic position
Leeann highlighted that Christchurch and Canterbury remain a powerhouse in New Zealand’s economy. Key indicators included GDP growth of +0.1% (versus a national average of -0.9%) and new business registrations up 2.4%, double the national average.
Business confidence recovery
Consumer and business confidence in Canterbury is rebounding. The November business survey showed the highest confidence levels since COVID, with historic averages returning for investment and hiring intentions.
International growth
Strong international visitor numbers were highlighted, with arrivals at Christchurch Airport up 29% year-on-year and international visitor card spending up 8%.
Launch of the Canterbury Ambition
Leeann unveiled the Canterbury Ambition, an 18-month collaborative initiative uniting businesses, community leaders, and stakeholders. Focused on three pillars — environment, innovation, and lifestyle — the Ambition envisions Canterbury as “the home of opportunity, where the environment, innovation, and lifestyle can thrive together.”
Key Highlights from Phil Mauger’s Speech
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Economic performance assessment
Mayor Mauger acknowledged that 2025 wasn’t a roaring comeback year, but noted that Christchurch and Canterbury modestly outperformed the rest of the country. Strong exports, growing visitor numbers, and positive employment trends underpin this resilience.
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Tourism and events success
Christchurch is emerging as New Zealand’s premier destination for major sports and large-scale entertainment. Upcoming events in 2026 include:
- Supercars at Ruapuna
- Super Round at One New Zealand Stadium
- New Zealand Fashion Week
- New Zealand Squash Open
- Electric Avenue festival, expanded to a two-day event projected to bring 20,000 additional visitors and generate over $10 million in business spending
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Labour market improvements
While the labour market remains soft, forward indicators are positive: online job ads are up nearly 12%, and the region is adding approximately 900 jobs per week.
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Government reforms and challenges
Mauger addressed reforms around local government simplification and rate capping, noting potential impacts on Christchurch’s growth. He emphasized the need for constructive engagement with central government to ensure reforms are suitable for the region.
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Heritage asset priorities
Investing in nationally significant heritage assets was highlighted as a key priority. Projects include the Christchurch Cathedral, Canterbury Museum, Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings, and the Arts Centre. Restoring these assets is projected to bring substantial tourism revenue and economic benefits.
Business Canterbury was proud to present The Canterbury Ambition, launched at our Back to Business event last night, a piece of work led by the private sector and supported by local government. It builds on the confidence and momentum we are experiencing across Canterbury right now, with a focus on locking that in for decades to come through alignment, long-term ambition for the future of our region, and a clear understanding of what we need to protect and enhance to get there.
Through conversations with both local government and business leaders, we quickly reached a consensus that the connection between our environment, innovative spirit, and affordable housing and lifestyle is what sets us apart — and should underpin our growth story moving forward.
Announcing this work in a room full of bold thinkers and doers felt incredibly fitting. The energy in the room reflected the ambition and optimism building across Canterbury. We’re proud to have this work now live and look forward to progressing it alongside the businesses and leaders who helped shape it.
This is just the beginning, with a clear roadmap to follow in partnership across the public and private sectors.
Learn more and view the summary document: https://www.businesscanterbury.co.nz/canterbury-ambition
