The Influencers

Historic red and black pride for Canterbury Rugby has a new place to call gather and call home. Last weekend’s Canterbury Rugby housewarming against Auckland felt like more than a first match in our new home. With Shapeshifter electrifying the occasion and red and black pulsing through the city, Canterbury Rugby brought something […]

The strength of Canterbury’s local food ecosystem is reflected in the region’s recent Michelin success. One of the great privileges of living in Canterbury is access to an extraordinary network of growers, farmers, fishers and artisan producers. From the foothills and plains to the coastline and vineyards, our region produces ingredients recognised not […]

Canterbury architecture has helped shaped Christchurch’s identity, future and quality of life. Architecture has always played a defining role in Christchurch’s identity. Since the earthquakes, Ōtautahi has become a place where bold ideas, resilience and creativity have shaped not only new buildings, but the way we live, work and connect. That’s why the […]

Giving a big welcome to the new cohort of international students choosing Christchurch. One of the best parts of my job as Mayor is getting the chance to welcome newcomers to this fantastic city of ours. Christchurch is resilient, diverse and has a strong sense of community so it’s vital that when people […]

Why a vibrant, energised city matters for Christchurch’s economy. Christchurch has felt more alive over the past few months. Packed sporting events and concerts, bustling streets, and a growing feeling that Ōtautahi is the place to be. That vibrancy is critical to how the city grows. Cities succeed because people choose to live, […]

New sister city Shenzhen shares priorities of sustainable development and economic growth. This past month, I had the privilege of leading a delegation to China, focused on strengthening relationships, exploring innovation, and identifying opportunities to deliver real benefits for Christchurch. Our visit began in Qingdao, where we discussed shared priorities around sustainable development, […]

To tackle the housing crisis, Kāinga Maha launches free toolkit for development. There is a conversation I keep returning to in this work. It happens when a community organisation – a church, a trust, an iwi authority – realises for the first time that the land they have held for decades isn’t just […]

Demand is up and supply is down in Canterbury. While the national property market is seeing a seasonal cooldown and flatter prices, Canterbury continues to chart its own resilient path. Recent Trade Me Property figures show the wider region is performing strongly, with a 3.3 per cent year-on-year increase in the average asking […]

The New Zealand Government wants local government bodies to amalgamate. We’ve had a busy time recently with the Government’s direction for councils to get together to come up with options for amalgamation within their regions. It’s a big piece of work, so we’re cracking on with looking at what the reform process means […]

Four years on from its first conference, Te Pae is more than just a venue. There’s something special about milestones that belong not just to an organisation, but to a city. As Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre marks four years since its first conference, I’ve found myself reflecting less on the scale of […]