Canterbury businesses are entering the final quarter of 2026 with confidence, strong investment intentions and growing capacity to back future growth, according to Business Canterbury's latest Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey released today.
The survey shows 72 percent of businesses expect the Canterbury economy to be stronger over the next 12 months, up 20 percentage points since May, while 72 percent also expect stronger financial performance within their own organisations. Investment intentions remain high, with 71 percent planning to invest in property, plant and equipment over the coming year, and 68 percent expecting to hire additional staff.
Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson says, “The results show a business community increasingly focused on long-term opportunity rather than short-term uncertainty.”
"When global conditions shifted in May following conflict in the Middle East, Canterbury businesses certainly felt the impact. What is encouraging is that they didn't put their plans on hold.
"While confidence fell earlier in the year, investment and hiring intentions remained remarkably resilient. Businesses have become increasingly used to planning for uncertainty rather than waiting for it to pass, and that is showing through in the decisions they are making today.
The survey shows that confidence is being driven by tangible business activity rather than sentiment alone. Sales growth, customer demand and forward pipelines all came through as strong points for both the Canterbury economy and individual businesses.
"The story behind these results is that businesses can see work ahead of them.”
"Strong pipelines, committed projects and ongoing demand are giving businesses the confidence to invest, hire and grow. That provides a much more durable foundation for confidence than simply hoping conditions improve.
The survey also points to a strong labour market here in Canterbury. Staff capability, retention and workforce quality came through as strengths in the economy again this quarter.
"After a prolonged period where workforce availability was one of the region's greatest constraints, many businesses are now telling us their people are becoming one of their greatest competitive advantages.”
"That reflects the work employers have done to attract, develop and retain talent, and it is helping position Canterbury businesses well for future growth.
"Canterbury is entering this period from a position of strength. Businesses are prepared to invest, create jobs and pursue growth opportunities, but they need confidence that the broader settings will support those decisions.
"That means accelerating enabling infrastructure, providing greater policy certainty and maintaining investment settings that encourage businesses to put capital to work.
"The opportunity for Canterbury is significant. The foundations are there, businesses have shown they are willing to back themselves, and with the right settings in place we have the potential to move today's confidence into sustained long-term growth for the wider New Zealand economy – driven by the South"
Key Numbers
- 72% expect the Canterbury economy to be stronger in 12 months, up 20 points on May.
- 72% expect stronger financial performance over the next 12 months, up 12 points.
- 71% expect to invest in property, plant and equipment within the next 12 months.
- 68% expect to hire new staff within the next 12 months.
- 77% are confident in their ability to deal with disruption.
- Top issues: consumer confidence and demand, inflation and interest rates, compliance costs, productivity and growth, international trade and geopolitical risks.
