Has Christchurch's earthquake recovery finally reached a turning point?
With the 15-year anniversary of the Canterbury Earthquakes recently commemorated, and Te Kaha, now known as the completed One New Zealand Stadium, it feels like Christchurch’s earthquake recovery is nearly complete.
We can never forget the 185 people who tragically died, or the broken city which has taken a generation to rebuild. But for myself and many Cantabrians, it feels like we can now move forward with confidence and optimism.
With the completion of 'The Stadium’ and Parakiore Sport and Recreation centre earlier this year, the Government’s key anchor projects have now been completed. Combined with a redeveloped Town Hall, the new Court Theatre, and several new dining and entertainment areas, including The Terrace hospitality precinct and Riverside Market amongst others – Christchurch now feels like it has a modern and exciting central city.
How has Christchurch changed since the earthquakes?
These developments have been a much-needed boon for the city that has changed drastically, with 10,000 homes and buildings being demolished, most of which were in the suburbs.
The quake damage to some land was so extensive that several of the worst affected suburbs in the Port Hills and east of the city centre were red-zoned. Much of the land bordering the Avon River is now being re-developed into green spaces, which will be a significant asset for the city in the future.
With tens of thousands of residents displaced, the population has moved west and southward. Suburbs like Wigram and small townships like Lincoln, Prebbleton, and particularly Rolleston have taken off.
Why has Rolleston become one of Canterbury's biggest growth stories?
Rolleston, which sits in the Selwyn district, has been one of the biggest success stories following the quakes. While it was already growing prior to the quakes, an abundance of farmland rezoned for residential development has seen the population explode from 2,500 in the year 2000 to more than 34,000 in 2025.
With modern three-bedroom homes still available for less than $800,000, and an expansion of local industry and amenities, Rolleston has become a great option for young families and those displaced by the quakes. The recent opening of the southern motorway extension means it only takes around 25 minutes to get to town, making Rolleston an even more attractive proposition.
Rolleston’s housing affordability has largely been mirrored across the Canterbury region. Many pundits consider Canterbury property to be undervalued with average house price around $795,000 compared to a national average of around $910,000. When the average price in Auckland is just over $1 million and around $810,000 in Wellington, it is little wonder Christchurch and its surrounding areas are proving popular.
What is driving confidence across Canterbury today?
Changes in zoning laws have intensified housing stock in many suburbs, especially those close to the city centre, with developers buying homes with large sections to build multiple townhouses. A long-time real estate agent for one of the big real estate companies told me they’d had a record year for house sales, and that the Christchurch market is very buoyant.
Business confidence across the region is also improving with a Canterbury Business Chamber of Commerce survey showing that, prior to the conflict in the Middle East, 76% of respondents believed both the Canterbury economy and their own business will be financially better off in 12 months.
And the message is getting out. The Chamber of Commerce says Christchurch saw a 29% increase in international arrivals at Christchurch airport in the past year. Similarly, the latest census shows a growing trend of North Islanders moving south, with Canterbury the fastest growing area in the country – increasing its population by nearly 43,000 between 2018 and 2023.
Why are so many people talking about Christchurch?
There is certainly a buzz growing around the city, and when morning radio Host Mike Hosking is waxing lyrical about the place, you know something good must be brewing.
Fifteen years on from one of the most tumultuous events in this young nation’s history, and Christchurch is once again open for business. And as Cantabs, we couldn’t be happier.
Blair Norton is a SCP Investment Relationship Manager and a born and bred Cantabrian.