Doing Business

Business in the South Island

Christchurch

An international airport, deep harbour port, radial road and rail links make Christchurch the main distribution centre for the South Island. Enhanced international status and economic benefits also accrue from the city’s position as Gateway to the Antarctic.

The major portion of the local economy is reliant on the primary produce of its surrounds: vegetables, specialist horticultural produce, grains, grapes, meat, dairy products, wool, aquaculture and timber.  The associated infrastructure and value-added processing operations also make a substantial contribution.

Secondary and emerging industries include tourism, light industrial engineering, manufacturing, software development, electronics and education.  The three universities and sixteen plus research institutions offer an excellent research and development base; the region is technologically advanced by international standards, with a stable and educated labour force.

Christchurch, the main city on the South Island, is a vibrant center of commerce, and is creating an increasingly impressive infrastructure to meet these needs. Travelers are catered for by an extensive range of excellent hotels and accommodation facilities.
Its new sports and entertainment centre, the world-class convention centre and the adjacent performing arts complex are a testament to this exciting period of change and progress.

Christchurch is an international gateway with a busy international airport, a thriving deep water port and comprehensive road and rail links. Less than two hours flying time can take you from one end of New Zealand to the other, so Christchurch’s centralized location makes it an ideal distribution base. The city also holds gateway status to Antarctica with the New Zealand, American and Italian Antarctic programs based locally.

Both the continuing commercial success of the local business community and the enviable quality of life its residents enjoy daily is due in no small part to a particularly proactive approach by local government.

Comments from manufacturers indicated an upbeat outlook, although the continuing high value of the New Zealand dollar, especially against the U.S currency, meant many exporters were not as competitive as in previous years.

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