Get On Board

Christchurch's new Economic Ambition sets out a great plan for supporting our city’s economy in ways that are good for business, people, and the environment. I’ve run businesses in Christchurch and know that this is a great place to do business, and I love seeing my kids picking up the reins. But things have changed since I started out and we need to keep changing with it, whether that is because of climate change, international politics or new technology. As the economic powerhouse of the South Island, we’re ambitious about the future and driving the changes we need to see so future generations continue to be able to live, work, play and invest in Christchurch.

Christchurch Mayor - Phil Mauger

Kathmandu supports Ōtautahi Christchurch city’s Economic Ambition and its goal to grow our local economy in ways that are good for business, people, and the environment. We share the same vision of a future that is good for people and the planet, which is inherently good for business. Christchurch is our home and our community. Supporting this great city to thrive is something we’re energised to be a part of.

Megan Welch - CEO Kathmandu

Fabrum supports the ambition as it aligns with our company purpose to leverage Canterbury hi-tech manufacturing capability and enable a pathway for emerging kiwi talent to develop world leading technology that is adopted globally for a cleaner future.

Christopher Boyle - Executive Chairman Fabrum

Orion is the electricity distribution business for central Canterbury, powering a cleaner brighter future with our community through connection, collaboration and innovation. The Ōtautahi Christchurch Economic Ambition will enable planning and investment in the local energy system to unlock this ambition. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with ChristchurchNZ and other stakeholders to facilitate the transition to a low carbon, resilient and fair energy future.

Nigel Barbour - Chief Executive Orion

Having a clear bold and courageous vision and aspiration for Christchurch, a city that punches well above our weight with world leading businesses, is an essential part of telling our story. Business Canterbury has been the home and voice of business since 1859, and looks forward to continuing that role, working alongside ChristchurchNZ on the shared Christchurch Economic Ambition.

Leeann Watson - Chief Executive Business Canterbury

The Christchurch International Airport team is unashamedly ambitious about protecting, preserving and enhancing the environment through practicing kaitiakitanga. We are determined to continue making our business more sustainable for future generations and play our part in world-leading initiatives around clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, circularity and waste diversion. We support the Christchurch Economic Ambition to ensure we remain the best place in the world to visit, live and do business.

Justin Watson - Chief Executive Christchurch International Airport

Leaft Foods is proud to support Christchurch’s Economic Ambition, aligning with the city’s goal to foster economic growth that benefits business, community, and the environment. Our purpose to cultivate protein sustainably resonates with this vision, as we prepare to scale and transition to commercialisation, enhancing Canterbury’s farming systems with our innovative Rubisco extraction technology.

Chris Simcock - Chief Financial Officer Leaft Foods

Incrediballs is deeply committed to sustainability and innovation, values that resonate with Christchurch's economic ambition. I’d like to see Christchurch become known as an innovative business hub where businesses, communities, and the environment thrive together – which is exactly what we see this initiative working to achieve. Our support for the plan is rooted in our belief in kaitiakitanga and mahi tahi – guardianship of our environment and working together towards a common goal. The ambition aligns with our mission to shake up the drinks industry and change the idea of business ‘as usual’ – ensuring we contribute to an economy where people and the planet are at the forefront.

Brianne West - Founder Incrediballs

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre was built as a regeneration project for Ōtautahi Christchurch to provide economic impact and social benefit to our city and region for many years to come. Our whole reason for being fits neatly into the Economic Ambition of our city, more so our operations and business model are aligned to many of the priorities outlined in the Ōtautahi Christchurch Economic Ambition. Te Pae Christchurch operations are on track to be carbon neutral by the end of 2024, and we will continue to provide economic growth for our city, regenerative growth. We support the Ōtautahi Christchurch Economic Ambition and ChristchurchNZ as its custodian, and together we will continue our mahi to build on our city’s success for a prosperous future.

Ross Steele - General Manager Te Pae

We endorse the need to continue to build whānau rangatiratanga to ensure all whānau thrive in the future and build immunity to economic shocks.

Tania Wati - Executive Director Whitiora

As a proud Canterbury-founded business, DETA is committed to supporting the removal of two million metric tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere by 2030. Working throughout Canterbury, New Zealand and Australasia we enable businesses to deliver real change and tangible improvement to their sustainability outcomes. We strongly support Christchurch NZ as custodian of the Christchurch Economic Ambition to further enhance and develop not only our home, but the place we know and love.

Jonathan Pooch - Managing Director DETA

Ōtautahi Christchurch is our tūrangawaewae – it’s where Brown Bread was born. We’re fundamentally a creative city, and it’s exciting to see a vision for the future that acknowledges this, and places value in people and the circular economy. We’re proud to partner with this inspiring kaupapa, and to see a framework where we can collaborate to continue getting stuff done and attract new energy!

Jo Blair - Founder Brown Bread

The Christchurch Foundation is proud to endorse the Economic Ambition as it is very aligned to our own focus of intergenerational transformation for our people and place. Building resilience and sustainability into our economy will undoubtedly empower future generations and build strong social capital. Communities are like ecosystems. Just as a forest thrives when nurtured over decades, our people flourish when we invest in their long-term well-being. By planting seeds today—whether through commerce, education, infrastructure, or social programmes—we ensure a resilient and sustainable future. Community investment isn’t just altruistic; it’s also smart economics. A thriving community attracts businesses, creates jobs, and boosts property values. By planting seeds today, we reap a bountiful harvest tomorrow.

Amy Carter - CEO Christchurch Foundation

We're thrilled to support Christchurch's Economic ambitions. It's fantastic to see a future-thinking, positive-impact, city-wide approach. To make the most of this opportunity, our business is shifting more of our focus, team, and operations to Christchurch.

Tim Dorrian - Managing Director Aro Digital

I welcome and support the Christchurch Economic Ambition. As someone looking to build a successful business in Christchurch, the principles and language of the Ambition are fundamental to the changes we need in our economy. The work being done by ChristchurchNZ to lead and champion this will be pivotal to bring this into reality.

Craig Galloway - CEO Baseplate

We support Christchurch’s Economic Ambition because it recognises the future at our doorstep. Christchurch’s world-renowned technology industry is rapidly shifting focus to make a difference to our planet. Our tech businesses are teaming up to decarbonise the transport sector with hydrogen and synthetic fuel alternatives.

Andy Millard - CEO Link Engine Management

Victor Hugo once said that “nothing else is so powerful as an idea whose time has come”. At Research First that is exactly how we feel about ChristchurchNZ’s Economic Ambition for Ōtautahi Christchurch. Our city was built by pioneers hungry for a better future, and we see that hunger expressed in CNZ’s Ambition. As Victor Hugo would have recognised, now is the time for new ideas, new thinking, and a fresh focus.

Carl Davidson - Head of Insight Research First

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) is pleased to support Ōtautahi Christchurch’s Economic Ambition, which aligns with UC’s strategy, Tangata Tū, Tangata Ora. UC is the leading source of future-focused graduates for Ōtautahi Christchurch and Waitaha Canterbury. One in every two UC graduates working in Aotearoa New Zealand stay in Waitaha Canterbury. UC’s teaching and learning strategy connects our students to work-integrated learning experiences, helping them build business sector and industry relationships while studying for their chosen degrees. Academics in our seven faculties prioritise developing programmes and qualifications that are research-led and connected to future industry and community needs that are meaningful and relevant, locally and globally.

Professor Cheryl de la Rey - Vice-Chancellor Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

Enable stands firmly behind the Ōtautahi Christchurch Economic Ambition for a regenerative future. With over 16 years of growth, bringing fibre broadband to more than 200,000 homes, businesses and schools across our community, we understand the importance of sustainability and responsible business practices to protect the place we call home. We believe businesses have a responsibility to lead the way in creating positive change and we’re committed to playing a role in shaping a more sustainable and prosperous Christchurch alongside ChristchurchNZ.

Johnathan Eele - CEO Enable Networks

Sir Angus Tait, the founder of Tait Communications, knew the value of connectedness. From the beginning in the late 1940s, he hoped his business would encourage other technologists to set up in Canterbury. He knew that a thriving tech sector, a community of potential employers, would help attract and keep high-quality staff in the south and that the cross-pollination of skills and people among companies would accelerate innovation. Sir Angus actively encouraged employees who wanted to try their hand in business and, through his own philanthropy and via the Tait Foundation, he established support for education which is having a lasting positive impact. So at Tait we know the value of long-term ambition.

Dr Yorum Benit - CEO Tait Communications

As a major part of the Banks Peninsula / Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū 2050 Ecological Vision, Pest Free Banks Peninsula supports the Economic Ambition. With over a dozen agencies and organisations working together on pest control, we are part of helping to create a future for us and our next generations that’s based on a regenerative economy, and which supports a transition towards environment, climate and socially responsible models and practices. Our work contributes to a collective vision of regenerating the environment and protecting the Peninsula’s unique ecology for future generations. That will in turn support manuhiri to come and learn about and explore the Peninsula’s geography in a way that delivers benefits for our taiao, our people, and our visitors.

Mark Christensen - Chair, Project Oversight Group Pest Free Banks Peninsula

At EcoCentral we lead the way in prolonging the life of goods and enabling a circular economy for Ōtautahi so we’re proud to support the Christchurch Economic Ambition and its long-term goal of a regenerative economy for our city.

Craig Downie - Chief Executive Officer EcoCentral

The Crusaders care deeply about Christchurch and its ongoing wellbeing, especially as it becomes the most desirable place to live in New Zealand. We’re therefore very supportive of ChristchurchNZ’s Economic Ambition and its objectives. Sport plays an important role in a society’s culture and a city’s economy, and we’re excited about how the Crusaders can contribute to the outlined regenerative economy.

Colin Mansbridge - CEO The Crusaders

At Streamliners, we use technology to improve the health and wellbeing of people around the globe. We are world leaders at providing timely, accurate and contextualised information to educators and health professionals when they need it - so that they can address the educational and health needs of the people they serve. As a weightless export, we can reach the world, without leaving home. We back Christchurch’s Economic Ambition to enable businesses to become more productive and use resources more efficiently.

Stella Ward - CE Streamliners