Work programme

The Greater Christchurch Partnership and Urban Growth Partnership have a strong focus on delivery through an integrated work programme, guided by the direction set through GCP strategic documents, national policy direction and agreed partner expectations.

Central government, mana whenua, and local government are working together to prepare an ambitious plan for Greater Christchurch so that we can get ahead of the game in relation to planning for future growth, and give effect to our residents’ aspirations for the future of Greater Christchurch.

The Urban Growth Programme includes:

  • Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan - which will provide a blueprint for how we will accommodate future population and business growth in our city region
  • Greater Christchurch Transport Plan - which will provide for consistent and integrated investment in transport and propose an action plan in the short, medium and longer term
  • Mass Rapid Transit Indicative Business Case - exploring the creation of a high-tech, high-frequency, high-capacity, no-emission, public transport service called 'turn up and go'

Background

Greater Christchurch is Aotearoa New Zealand’s second-largest urban area with a population of over half a million people – 10% of the national population and 45% of the South Island population.  It is the economic, logistics and service hub for the Waitaha/Canterbury region and the South Island.

Greater Christchurch has recorded more than a decade of strong population and employment growth. This growth, along with the redistribution of people and businesses displaced by the earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, and significant investment in recovery and regeneration, has changed our urban areas.

We expect this strong growth rate to continue.  We need to plan now for how our urban areas will provide housing for more people and what they will need to live well in the future.

We've had a coordinated approach to urban planning and transport investment in Greater Christchurch since 2007. 

Our current Urban Growth Programme builds on this work, considering future opportunities and challenges and integrating urban and transport planning for our urban areas so we are ready for the future.

In 2020 Greater Christchurch residents told us that by 2050 they wanted Christchurch to be sustainable, vibrant and safe, with less urban sprawl, more affordable housing and much better transport options lessening our dependence on cars.  See the Engagement Report [PDF, 747 KB](external link) for more details of what the community told us.  This has provided us with clear direction on the aspirations of the community, which is guiding our current work.

Greater Christchurch has a strong foundation to develop a sustainable and modern city where people enjoy a high standard of living.  Read our Foundation Report(external link) if you want to learn more about the strengths we can build on and the challenges we need to address as we plan for the future.