Business growth highlights strong economy

Waikirikiri Selwyn continues to be one of the strongest economies in the country and is proving increasingly popular with new businesses.

The latest figures from Infometrics show the district’s GDP rose 1.5% in the year to June 2025, compared with 0.1% growth across Canterbury, while GDP fell -0.8% nationally.

The number of businesses in Waikirikiri Selwyn grew by 3.1% over the year and the signs of this growth were backed up by a 14.7% increase in the number of commercial vehicles registered in the district compared to the year before.

The report is a positive sign of the resilience of Selwyn’s economy and the district’s attractiveness for businesses, Council Chief Executive Sharon Mason says.

“These figures back up what we see out in the community all the time; that more and more businesses are waking up to the opportunities in Waikirikiri Selwyn. We are a district that is open and connected, with a young and growing population, good location and infrastructure, and great people. As a Council we’re working to support that through our Kai Aku Rika Economic Development Strategy, working with business to grow the Selwyn of the future.”

The district also continues to buck the national trend for employment, with the number of residents in jobs rising 3.4% compared to a year ago, while national employment fell by-1.5% and by -0.4% across Canterbury. The unemployment rate in Waikirikiri Selwyn rose from 2.7% in the previous 12 months to 3.1% but remains significantly below the annual average in New Zealand (5.0%) and for Canterbury (4.8%).

Consumer spending also continued to grow, up 0.9%, while spending nationally shrank by -1.7%. The figures also showed Waikirikiri Selwyn remains a popular place for people to build or buy houses with residential consents up 15.5% compared to a year earlier.