ChristchurchNZ reported strong momentum and surplus at mid‑year

CNZ delivers strong results and a surplus

At the halfway point of the year, the city’s economic development agency said it was on track to meet all nine Levels of Service agreed with Christchurch City Council, signalling steady delivery across its core functions.

ChristchurchNZ Board Chair Lauren Quaintance said the organisation was seeing momentum right across its portfolio.

As part of the transition of the urban development function back to the Council, ChristchurchNZ expects to return approximately $1 million in unspent funding to the Council at the end of the financial year. The transition is scheduled to be completed on 20 April and will see the organisation’s core Council funding reduce by around $1.8 million annually in future years.

ChristchurchNZ is also tracking ahead of expectations on external funding, reflecting both strong delivery and Christchurch’s growing appeal to government and global partners.

Strong financial position and competitive funding success

At the end of the first half of the year, ChristchurchNZ recorded a $1.17 million surplus. Much of the surplus relates to funding committed to activity in the second half of the year, alongside savings associated with the urban development transition.

Over the last 12 months, the organisation has secured approximately $2.5 million in competitive central government funding, reinforcing third‑party funding as a growing contributor to ChristchurchNZ’s work.

ChristchurchNZ Chief Executive Ali Adams shared interim progress on the organisation’s five KPIs, which are set by the ChristchurchNZ board each year.

The aggressive target was due to ChristchurchNZ exceeding the previous year's stretch target of 220 years of work by factor of almost 4, creating 776 FTE years of work in long-lasting jobs.

Delivery across growth sectors and city vitality

Adams said the organisation’s focus on growth sectors is underpinning long‑term productivity while supporting immediate economic activity.

One of the quarter’s major highlights was progress in the aerospace sector, where ChristchurchNZ moved from strategy development into implementation. The New Zealand Aerospace Summit, hosted in Christchurch in October, was the largest to date and delivered nearly $1 million in economic value, alongside new commercial opportunities and international investment interest.

The organisation also hosted 40 international aerospace VIPs, including NASA representatives, and is co‑leading a national aerospace workforce plan with the New Zealand Space Agency. Early work has also been completed on a proposed Aerospace Hub at the Air Force Museum site.

Another key moment this quarter was the Antarctic Season Opening, coordinated by ChristchurchNZ alongside the Mayoral Office. The six‑day programme included eight events with representatives from 17 nations, generating international research and investment conversations, strengthening diplomatic ties and creating new opportunities for local businesses.

Community engagement was also a focus, with Explorers’ Day attracting more than 3,000 families and supporting pathways from education into science and innovation careers.

Major events driving visitation and spend

To support the visitor economy, ChristchurchNZ delivered its “On Show” spring campaign, aligning city marketing with 12 major events and extending reach across New Zealand and Australia. The inclusion of the Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival diversified the portfolio of events and broadened the city’s appeal.

The campaign generated strong results, delivering:

• Over 116,000 attendees
• 43,000 visitors
• Nearly 64,000 visitor nights
• Around $15 million in visitor spend

“Our focus remains clear,” Adams said. “Creating jobs, growing the city’s wealth and making Christchurch more prosperous and vibrant all year round.”