The Influencers: Joanna Norris
At the heart of one of the most desirable destinations in the world sits Ōtautahi Christchurch, a revitalised city where central South Island adventures begin. Arrive here and explore the full gambit of New Zealand experiences, just up the road, around the corner or over the pristine Southern Alps. No matter where […]
The Influencers: Joanna Norris
The second wave of Covid-19 has dealt the country a psychological blow alongside the economic and social impacts we are still experiencing from the first outbreak. Ōtautahi Christchurch’s Socio-Economic Recovery Plan anticipated community transmission was likely and remains the basis for how we respond to these impacts. Our sights are firmly set […]
The Influencers: Paul Lonsdale
I recently ran a place-making event called the Winter Fun Chill in the City for the Central City Business Association. We received great support from the locals and a wide range of citywide businesses enabling us to offer the central city as a platform where their brands could grow. It was hugely […]
The Influencers: John Bridgman
One of the pleasing aspects of our work delivering anchor projects for Christchurch is the positive impact on suppliers. We’re spending over $10m a month in the city at the moment. We’ve profiled some of those suppliers in recent in-house video updates. Local company, John Jones Steel is producing 4500 tonnes of […]
The Influencers: Marian Johnson
If you haven’t heard, our city has just launched an ambitious new programme to enable critical support and growth for Christchurch’s most ambitious innovators and entrepreneurs. The city-wide approach is a key action in the city’s Economic Recovery Plan and aims to boost support across the start-up growth journey – from early […]
The Influencers: Antonia Riordan
Spring is almost here, so time for a health spring clean for yourself or your workplace. If you’ve deferred some wellness practices in pursuit of staying in and warm over winter, here’s nine simple strategies for a healthier spring you. Remember this? 30 minutes a day, five days a week, add in […]
The Influencers: Joanna Norris
The latest retail data shows Christchurch tentatively returned to pre-COVID-19 spending levels. This is welcome news for our recovering economy, but it is sustained growth which we continue to work towards, as we know the sugar rush of post-lockdown spending may not last. Retail spending in Christchurch increased by 4 percent during […]
The Influencers: Scott Thelning
In challenging times it is often the things that bring us a sense of comfort, stability and normality that we fall back to support and guide us through the ups and downs. For me it was getting back into my early morning gym routine, on my bike in the Port Hills, and […]
The Influencers: Antonia Riordan
A sense of loss of control is a product of the prevailing times and can concern both our personal and professional lives, but we can take back that control and, while it might seem a tall order, the long-term gains of good wellbeing far outstrip feeling less than our best selves. […]
The Influencers: Marian Johnson
In case readers aren’t aware, Ministry of Awesome enables and supports high growth entrepreneurship and innovation in Christchurch and, increasingly, across New Zealand. Why is this important? Because our city, our country and the world are undergoing a massive period of transition, stemming from the rapid uptake of technology, globalisation and the […]










