Will power & try-umphs: Editor Nina Tucker
“Creativity isn’t something we import, it’s something that is born here.”
I heard this quote during the All in for Arts 2026 event held at The Piano in early March. It resonated with me because it reflects everything we are in Ōtautahi. Our sense of creativity and community is the backbone of what makes Christchurch the incredible (and clearly unbeatable according to recent favourable headlines) city it is. Creativity colours the walls of empty buildings and lines our streets with innovative businesses. It bridges connection and harnesses the intangible to create something real.
Jane Anderson was the woman behind that quote I love so much. She’s the private wealth director at JBWere; that morning she described herself as the only stereotypically ‘non-creative’ person on the panel. But that’s the point. Creativity doesn’t sit in one corner of society. It’s in everyone, and it’s everywhere.
For rugby superstar Will Jordan, getting creative on the field might look like a ‘chip and chase’ tactic. The best thing about creativity is that it isn’t measured in success – whether or not Will regathers the ball and scores doesn’t matter (though it does add another $1000 to Will’s generous donation for local rangatahi). What matters is the ripple effect it sparks. Will is a wonderful example of the change that creative and community-focused values can make. Find out what fuels his generous try-driven donation initiative from page 10.
Turn your focus to New Brighton, and you’ll find, as deputy editor Tamara Pitelen and I did during a recent visit, the seaside suburb is getting a new lease on life. With a brand new community-centric Village Green and a passionate group of locals, New Brighton is becoming the colourful, sun-soaked spot to spend a Saturday. Soon, with multiple residential developments and infrastructure upgrades on the way, it might be that you never want to leave (did you know new residents receive a welcome bag full of local goodies thanks to the New Brighton Project?) Learn more from page 77.
Inside this issue and over the hill, Akaroa’s iconic French Festival returns in October, and innovation comes to the Canterbury food waste sector, redefining how we see ‘leftovers’. Experiment in fashion with my eight favourite silver sneaker picks, and find some whimsical ways to weave Easter into your interiors.
Stay creative, Canterbury.
