What is Greater Christchurch 2050?

Check out the Greater Christchurch area we’re talking about [PDF, 234 KB].

When we talk about Greater Christchurch, we mean Christchurch city and nearby areas within the Selwyn and Waimakariri districts, from Rolleston to Rangiora.

• We’re home to 10% of New Zealand’s population and the second biggest urban centre in New Zealand by population.
• The population has grown 15.1% since 2006 – only Auckland has grown more quickly. 
• By 2048, Greater Christchurch is expected to grow to about 640,000, some 150,000 more people than today.
• Our people are generally older than other major urban centres in New Zealand. In 2018, the median age of residents here was 38.5 years. In Auckland it was 36 years, and 35 years for Greater Wellington.
• We are becoming more diverse. More than 20% of the population was born overseas and that number is growing. A quarter of the population now identifies as non-European. Non-European communities are, on average, younger than European.

The Greater Christchurch Partnership includes:

• Environment Canterbury
• Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
• Canterbury District Health Board
• Christchurch City Council
• Waimakariri District Council
• Selwyn District Council
• Waka Kotahi (New Zealand Transport Agency)
• Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (Greater Christchurch Group)

They’re all working together to create a long term plan that can be realised, together. Find out more about the Partnership.

• To ensure the wellbeing of our people and the environment we must think inter-generationally and start now to adapt how we plan for the future to face major global challenges and trends.
• The opportunity of Greater Christchurch is not well understood – as a place to live, work and invest, and as a significant contributor to national wellbeing – locally, nationally, internationally.
• We are at a pivotal point in our post-quake journey – it’s time to look ahead, to set a confident vision for the future.
• We want to reset our strategic partnership with central government.
• Working in partnership with mana whenua and iwi, Greater Christchurch 2050 will also provide a basis for Central Government and private sector investment. Key to this will be building on our region’s economic strengths to grow and attract the industries, employment and investment that will provide prosperity for our future generations.
• Decisions made through Greater Christchurch 2050 will help inform the development of partners’ long-term work programmes and budgets and will ensure the community and economy are best placed to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. This work will also help reposition the urban area for a more prosperous, inclusive, sustainable and resilient future.

Timeline