The Influencers

One of the most exciting things about Innovate Ōtautahi was the number of young people in attendance. We know young people are engaged in innovation and technology – channeling that interest into great careers is the next step. We have organisations here in Christchurch helping to make this happen. One of our local […]

Canterbury businesses are showing renewed optimism about the economy, following our latest Business Canterbury survey, which opened in the days following the first interest rate cut in four-and-a-half years. This rise in confidence is a welcome sign for the business community and our local economy. We’re seeing quite a large improvement in expectations […]

From the early planning stages of Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, we knew our city was going to have one of the finest convention centres in Australasia. In my biased opinion, it is the best. We recognise that all convention centres, no matter where they are in the world, are built to host […]

I’ve just settled back in after a whirlwind two weeks in China for a Sister Cities visit. The importance of face-to-face meetings can’t be underestimated, so it was fantastic to get over there in person with the delegation which included councillors Victoria Henstock and Jake McLellan. It was a busy trip, but we […]

I think we tend to take for granted what a brilliant thing Antarctic Gateway status is for Ōtautahi Christchurch. Maybe it’s Kiwi modesty that makes us downplay these things. But it’s huge. As one of only five Gateway Cities worldwide, Christchurch is New Zealand’s Antarctic hub. With over a century of service as […]

Recently Te Papa Hauora, the Health Precinct, supported the University of Canterbury Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE) in the delivery of its annual ‘Future of Health’ Disrupt Challenge. The Challenge involved over 50 students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, from a range of local tertiary institutions volunteering to spend an intense weekend exploring solutions to […]

Business events are proving to be a catalyst for increased demand in our local hotel sector, showing the significant impact that strategic urban projects have on private investment. As a Crown-led project, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has notably spurred growth in our city, as we see the unveiling of three new hotels […]

It’s great to see the days starting to get longer again and know that we’re getting closer to warmer weather—even if it is still a wee way off. The longer days will soon mean that our contractors will be back out on the streets, working on resealing and repairing roads, footpaths and cycleways. […]

As organisations across Canterbury face an extended period of change, we want to ensure that we are providing our business community with the tools and knowledge to not just survive but look at growth opportunities through these challenging times. Today’s leaders are called upon to wear multiple hats – caring for their own […]

One of my favourite New Zealand films is Sir Peter Jackson’s 1994 classic Heavenly Creatures. Dark subject matter aside, it did a wonderful job of capturing a 1950s Christchurch look and feel, and rightfully gained international accolades. It also paved the way for the careers of Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey and put […]