Canterbury Region 

About Canterbury
The region of Canterbury (Waitaha) lies on the southern eastern side of the centre of the South Island. The region covers an area of 44,503.88 square kilometres (17,183.04 sq mi), making it the largest region in the country by area. It is home to a population of 694,400 (June 2024), this represents circa 13% of the NZ population. Population density sits at 15.6 people per km2. Over 403,000 of that population is based in Christchurch,  the South Island's largest city and the country's second-largest urban area. Other major towns and cities  within the region include Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora and Rolleston.

Demographics
77.4 percent of people in Canterbury Region belong to the European
ethnic group, compared with 67.6 percent for New Zealand as a whole.
7.2 percent of people in Canterbury Region belong to the Māori
ethnic group, compared with 14.6 percent for all of New Zealand.
 

Canterbury has a higher percentage of people who identify as
European than New Zealand as a whole, and a smaller percentage
of people who identify as Māori, Pacific, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin

American and African (MELAA)

Christchurch City has the most ethnically diverse population in Canterbury Māori and Pacific populations in Canterbury have a markedly younger age structure than the total population, due to higher birth rates. 23% of people in Canterbury were born overseas. Just under half of these had been living in New Zealand for less than ten years at the time of the 2018 Census. 

The most common birthplace for overseas-born people living in Canterbury in 2018 was Asia (37%), followed by UK and Ireland (28%) and Australia (17%). 

Economy
The region's economy initially developed with the introduction of sheep farming. The Canterbury region's tussock plains in particular were suitable for extensive sheep farming. Since they were highly valued by settlers for their meat and wool, there were over half a million sheep in the region by the early 1850s. 

GDP within the Canterbury Region was measured as $47,944 million in year ended 2023.  This compares with the New Zealand GDP for the same period of $389,145 million. The biggest contributors to economic growth in Canterbury over the last 10 years by sector include: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Construction; Retail Trade; and Health Care and Social Assistance.

The main population centre, Christchurch had a GDP of $31,569.3 million in the year to March 2023. This was an increase of $853 million (2.8%) from 2022. Three industries accounted for 30% of the city's GDP in 2023: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (12%); Healthcare and Social Assistance (8.9%); and Manufacturing (8%).

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Christchurch has the highest labour productivity in the South Island and is home to approximately three quarters (around 72%) of the total number of employees in the region. The region’s unemployment level is lower than both Auckland and Wellington.

Projections show the Canterbury population is expected to increase by 25% between 2018 and 2048, offering the potential for a large customer base and workforce pool.