The Influencers: Marian Johnson

At Ministry of Awesome, we are completely focused on growing NZ’s future high-value companies. One of the most exciting projects we are working on right now is how we can encourage more women founders into the start-up pipeline.     Not only do we want to encourage diversity in our start-up ecosystem […]

The Influencers: John Bridgman

In what might be the best gauge of current developer confidence in Christchurch, we have just gone to market with our largest central city land parcel.   At over 8000m2 the site bordered by Madras, Armagh and Gloucester Streets is the biggest blank canvas development opportunity you will see this close to […]

The Influencers: Joanna Norris

Having wrapped up a fantastic summer of events, capped off with the biggest coup of all – securing Christchurch as host city for global sailing event Sail GP 2022 – it’s worth a look at why major events form a key part of our economic recovery.     If you were one […]

Leeann Watson

The Influencers: Leeann Watson

The last few weeks have intensified the spotlight on Covid-19. We have seen changes in Alert Levels, which have again caused disruption in our community. However this time we were all better prepared, with systems and practices in place to be able to respond.     This was foreshadowed by the announcement […]

The Influencers: Lianne Dalziel

I was in a coffee shop the other day when someone asked me if I was the Mayor. Turns out she had recently moved from Auckland to take up a job here, and it was her chance to let me know how much she was enjoying the move.     The rent […]

The Influencers: Joanna Norris

A growing number of Kiwis are eyeing up Ōtautahi Christchurch as a tempting place to live. Twenty per cent of those recently surveyed said they were open to relocating to Christchurch within the next five years. This is a great indicator of the vibrancy and profile of our city. We regularly gauge […]

The Influencers: Peter Townsend

Like many of you, I am sure, I have spent time over the Christmas break reflecting on the tumultuous events of 2020 and constantly reminding myself just how fortunate we are in New Zealand to be able to live relatively normal lives compared to so many others around the world. It is […]

The Influencers: John Bridgman

This month we will take a moment to remember all that Christchurch lost on February 22 a decade ago. It’s also a natural point to consider how far we have come in that time. Responsibility for the delivery of the Crown-led anchor projects was handed to Ōtākaro Limited in 2016. While a […]

The Influencers: Marian Johnson

We have around 530,000 small businesses in New Zealand. This represents 97 percent of all commercial ventures, 28 percent of employment, and 25 percent of GDP – proving that the Kiwi entrepreneurial mindset is alive and well. Why then do we have so few start-up versus small business founders? What’s the difference […]

The Influencers: Leeann Watson

Ngā mihi o te tau hou Happy new year! As I write my first Metropol column of 2021, I strongly believe the year ahead is full of possibility. We have come off the back of a tumultuous year, our lives upended by Covid-19 heralding a new normal in the way we live, […]