Voices & views of North Canterbury

by Metropol | February 4, 2026 8:35 am

The new year invites a renewed sense of energy and vibrancy to our local towns. We asked six of North Canterbury’s influential businesspeople why 2026 excites them; what challenges the region needs to overcome, and where we might find them when off-duty.

Michelle Anderton
Founder, Re.clotheme, 2A Good Street, Rangiora

I’m most excited about continuing to build relationships with our customers and seeing the ‘aha’ moment when someone finds that perfect piece. There’s something special about giving clothes a second life, and I’m loving it that more and more people are embracing preloved.

We’re working hard to maintain a vibrant town center that gives people a reason to shop local and attracts day trippers to explore what we have to offer. As our town grows, we’ll need to tackle practical issues like ensuring adequate parking for business owners and staff who need all-day parking.

I’m currently in transition mode – moving off the farm and building our own home. Between packing, finalising house plans, selecting finishes, and visiting display homes, I’m hoping to carve out time for some preloved fashion finds of my own!

Niki Mealings
Councillor, Oxford/Ōhoka ward

This year, there is an incredible amount of change on the horizon which could really go any number of ways. One of the things I love about my job is that we have the opportunity to shape the future in a way that makes for better lives for our communities. The challenge is in achieving the best outcomes. So, GAME ON! I always say, if you’re bored, you’re doing it wrong!

The biggest challenge facing Waimakariri is balancing the fast growth of the district whilst preserving the things that people love about living here. There is a lot of regulatory change and reform proposed by Wellington and it’s important to advocate hard for the best outcomes for our people.

If you want to find me on my day off, a reliable place is the Ōhoka Domain, either at the Ōhoka Farmers Market, or at a working bee in the Ōhoka Bush. Waimakariri is blessed with a wide variety of beautiful walks through bush, along rivers and beaches. We also have an awesome array of cafes and bespoke shops you won’t find anywhere else, so it depends if I’m feeling like a town day or a country day.

Andrew Blackwell
Fifth generation retailer at Blackwell’s Department Store, 131 Williams Street, Kaiapoi

In 2026, I can’t wait to continue enhancing the growth of Blackwell’s Department Store by improving the in-store customer experience. We plan on expanding the community events we organise (such as the Kaiapoi Fun Run and Walk in March, the Blackwell’s Winter Festival in July, and the Kaiapoi Community Christmas Market in December). Every effort is part of a wider plan to promote Kaiapoi as a must-visit destination for the Waimakariri, Christchurch, and Canterbury communities, highlighting the numerous shopping, dining, recreational, and lifestyle activities available. Though, that means managing the rapid growth in the district while maintaining the lifestyle, feel and aesthetic of our main towns: Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Woodend, Pegasus, and Oxford.

When I’m not focusing on that, I’m spending quality time with family and grandchildren, enjoying daily walks along Kaiapoi’s picturesque riverside and reserve walking tracks, and visiting the numerous cafes and restaurants. If I’ve got a weekend free, I’ll head to Hanmer Springs for the hot pools and to explore the nature trails.

Ron van Till
Owner, Artisan Bakery, 18 High Street, Rangiora

At the bakery, 2026 is shaping up to be a strong year – we’ve created another 10 positions just to cope with the increased export demand for our products. We are about to double our solar footprint by covering our staff carpark area with a canopy of solar panels to utilise the area and do our part for sustainability.

Outside, traffic movements in and out of Rangiora are almost third world and with the continued installation of traffic lights just slows things down further. The planned bypass of Southbrook should be under construction now and not in the coming years.

I love to enjoy the reason I choose to live here: the people, the close proximity of great restaurants and bars, the bike tracks, the tennis or pickleball courts, the football fields, and the space. I am fortunate to travel a lot and we forget to enjoy the reason New Zealand is so popular to overseas tourists. We live in a country where the temperature is not 40-plus degrees, where we can see the mountains and breathe fresh air.

Ian Page
North Canterbury Veterinary Clinics Ltd (Amberley, Culverden, Cheviot, Waikari).

This year marks the completion of a modern, purpose-built veterinary clinic for our Cheviot branch. It replaces the existing 50-plus year old clinic with space for our expanding veterinary workforce, and better opportunities to display our product range. We have a number of young and enthusiastic veterinary staff coming to join us this year too, to reinvigorate the business.

For a small rural township such as Cheviot, the ongoing challenges of maintaining local services for our residents is a persistent challenge. Whether that is local road maintenance, health services or trade professionals, we are always vulnerable to losing access to the services we rely on.

When I’m off-duty, I’m on the bike on one of many cycle trails. I have just ‘upgraded’ to an e-bike so I can get to the places where I have previously only heard tourists rave about.

Sara Shand
Owner, Emmas at Oxford, 53 Main Street, Oxford

I’m super excited about all the great books coming out in 2026, from authors we already love to some brilliant new voices. I never get tired of putting the right book into someone’s hands; championing New Zealand writers; or helping people find a thoughtful, meaningful gift. April 2026 also brings the Global Book Crawl to New Zealand, and I’m also looking forward to continuing our work with schools and libraries too, all of us doing our bit to support literacy across Aotearoa.

Our biggest challenge right now is the ongoing economic pressure – everyone’s feeling it. I am hopeful that 2026 is the year we will see a more positive shift. North Canterbury is made up of small towns full of brilliant independent businesses, and they only survive if people choose to support them. The upside is that it’s also a great excuse to visit our smaller Waimakariri towns. It’s an eco-system: when we back each other, the whole region is stronger.

North Canterbury has so much to offer; so on a rare day off you’ll usually find me out and about enjoying it. In the coming weeks I’ll definitely be visiting the South Eyre Sunflower Field, and I’ve got a cheese-making course at All About Cheese in Kaiapoi firmly on my 2026 list.

Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/voices-views-of-north-canterbury/

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