Research and Insights

Prepared by Lincoln University’s Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit, this research explores opportunities to strengthen the resilience, innovation and value of Selwyn's food and fibre sector. It considers the current state of the sector, future land-use scenarios and industry perspectives, identifying opportunities including local processing, circular economy initiatives, provenance and branding, research and technology uptake, diversification and agritech.

This assessment investigates current and future demand for commercial accommodation in Rolleston and the potential opportunity for hotel investment. It identifies potential current demand for around 170 hotel rooms, increasing to an estimated 270–420 rooms within ten years if anticipated demand and growth are realised.

This research benchmarks Rolleston's commercial accommodation against similarly sized centres and other locations close to major cities. It shows Rolleston currently has very limited commercial accommodation relative to its population and comparator locations, reinforcing the potential opportunity for future accommodation investment.

This research explores the potential visitor and economic opportunity associated with Dark Sky tourism in Arthur's Pass and Castle Hill. It estimates that, if potential demand were fully realised, Dark Sky tourism could support up to $13.5 million in additional visitor spending and up to 56 jobs. These are indicative potential-demand estimates and would depend on investment in the visitor experience, infrastructure, protection and promotion.

Building on the Dark Sky research, this report considers whether existing accommodation in Arthur's Pass and Castle Hill could support potential visitor growth associated with Dark Sky tourism and a future cycle trail. It identifies seasonal accommodation constraints and the potential need for additional visitor accommodation if these opportunities are realised.

This report summarises preliminary feasibility work into a potential business hub in Rolleston, responding to the gap between Selwyn's rapid population growth and local high-value employment and business infrastructure. Market sounding explored a curated hub that could connect businesses with capability, funding, markets and other businesses while supporting more local jobs. This is preliminary work only. Council has made no decision or commitment to progress the concept further.