Canterbury’s booming economy, relatively affordable house prices, and business and lifestyle opportunities are attracting an increasing number of Aucklanders wanting to move south.

An NZME business panel, attended by 120 local businesspeople at the Christchurch Town Hall today, and hosted by Newstalk ZB radio’s Mike Hosking, heard about how the red-and-black province is bucking many national trends and enjoying a rosy economic outlook.

Business Canterbury chief executive Leeann Watson spoke about how Christchurch feels like it is booming, something that is supported by various economic indicators.

People are moving to the district in droves, “particularly from the North Island”, Watson said, with 46,000 coming in since 2018.

Local trade is up, new business registrations are double the national average, as are the region’s GDP numbers, while 900 new jobs a week are being advertised in Canterbury, Watson said.

“It’s a great place to live,” she told the audience, just hours after the city’s new $683 million covered stadium was formally opened.

“We’ve got a unique opportunity here in Christchurch on the back of our rebuild. Our economy is going really, really well. We’re in such a great position and we need to make sure we keep that momentum going.

“If we don’t talk about the Middle East today, that would be quite nice, because obviously that is at the forefront of everyone’s minds right now. Our advice at the moment is to plan, not panic. So subject to the impact of the Middle East, and we do know there will be an impact, this economy is going really well.”

Traditional sectors remain the backbone of the region, but new and emerging industries such as aerospace and medical technologies are playing a “very real” and key role.

Business Canterbury chief executive Leeann Watson says the Christchurch economy is going really well. Photo / Supplied

“Every other day, we are seeing businesses choose to move and set up here,” Watson said.

Nicola Grigg, MP for Selwyn, the fastest-growing district in the country, agreed and said the rebuild was done by local people who are now getting to enjoy its benefits.

The Christchurch event attracted about 120 people today. Photo / NZME

Adam Heazlewood, of Bayleys Canterbury, said he meets “multiple” Aucklanders every weekend wanting to make the move south.

“I always ask them why they want to move to Christchurch. Sometimes it’s due to family, business opportunity, whatever it may be, but what keeps coming up now as well is lifestyle improvement. It’s a really positive sign.”

Heazlewood believes the region will experience “some gradual growth” in 2026, saying that the “buyers are there and sentiment is really good”.

“They need to see value. If buyers don’t see value in this market, they’re not just going to act with emotion. They are going to need to see something compelling in front of them that makes sense and they are willing to act,” he said.

The first home buyers’ market is strong, he said, with the average sale price of $685,000 for the region an attractive entry point for many.

Post-quake inner city apartments are also proving to be highly competitive and “people are buying them”, Heazlewood said.

Hosking asked the panel what they would do if they had a magic wand for the region.

“We just need more cashflow and spending – the rest will sort itself out,” Heazlewood said.

Grigg agreed, saying a “confidence injection” would work wonders.

Watson said: “More certainty, more stability, which I know is hard in this environment, but also, to get out there and be bold and courageous and tell our stories because actually we’ve got a damn positive story to tell right here.”