The Canterbury Mayoral Forum’s third edition of the Waitaha Canterbury An Overview 2025 (PDF file, 2MB), shows Canterbury’s GDP increased 1.6% in the year ended March 2024.
The overview document shows Canterbury GDP represents 12% of national GDP (compared with 17% of land area and 13% of national population).
While this growth puts Canterbury in the top five regions and ahead of the national GDP increase, our GDP per capita ($75,743) is still behind the national GDP per capita ($79,210), while being much lower than Wellington ($100,445) and Auckland ($88,878).
Agriculture strong in Canterbury
Agriculture continues to drive the Canterbury economy, helped by strong activity in: primary and ‘other’ manufacturing, professional, scientific, and technical services, owner-occupied property operation, transport and warehousing as well as financial and insurance services.
Other key information in the overview report:
- Major infrastructure projects that are either proposed, in progress or have been completed (e.g. the 93ha Lauriston Solar Farm which became operational in 2025, and the 230ha Kowhai Park Solar Farm, expected to be operational in 2026).
- Canterbury remains the second highest emitter of greenhouse gases, contributing to 16% of all greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand, a drop from 19% in 2022 (data from 2023, latest available).
- The region is noted for surging consumer confidence, sizeable population growth and continued improvements in the housing market. Strong commodity prices are supporting rural New Zealand and the robust increase in dairy and meat prices will support the agriculture sector in Canterbury.
About Waitaha Canterbury 2025 – An overview
The overview report, produced every three years, provides high-level information on Canterbury’s environmental, economic, social and cultural performance and highlights key emerging trends. The information presented in the document helps inform Mayoral Forum priorities, engagement with central government and the development of a regional strategy for the next triennium, while providing the Waitaha community with key information about what’s going on in their backyard.
