Prime Minister’s Lunch 2025 Recap | Business Canterbury

Prime Minister’s Lunch 2025: Going for Growth in Canterbury

On Friday 29 August, over 450 business leaders gathered at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre for Business Canterbury’s annual Prime Minister’s Lunch. This year’s session took the form of a dynamic Q&A, giving attendees the chance to put their questions directly to Rt Hon Christopher Luxon on the Government’s policies and what they mean for Canterbury businesses and the wider economy.

A look inside the Prime Minister’s Lunch:

Building Economic Confidence

The Prime Minister acknowledged the “biggest recession since the early 1990s,” while noting Canterbury and the South Island are powering ahead of the national average. He reinforced confidence in New Zealand’s ability to recover strongly, driven by:

• Structural reforms in planning (RMA), education and trade access.

• $7 billion worth of infrastructure projects underway before Christmas.

• Targeted measures like OCR cuts and an Investment Boost scheme to help SMEs retool and lift productivity.

Energy Security as a Growth Enabler

Energy was highlighted as both a challenge and a strategic advantage. With nearly 90% of our electricity already renewable, the Government aims to double renewable capacity while ensuring transition security through fast-track consenting, strategic reserves, and overturning the oil and gas ban. Affordable, reliable power is seen as vital for industries, data centres, and AI growth.

Trade, Investment & Export Growth

Trade remains central to the Government’s growth strategy. Key points included:

• A goal to double exports by 2050, building on current growth (total exports up 7%, services exports up 21%).

• The UAE free trade deal, opening a $500b market with near-total tariff-free access.

• Nearly $2b in investor visa capital attracted in just over two months.

• A call for businesses to build their own market literacy and take ownership of their export success.

Supporting Business and Innovation

The Government’s approach is to set the right policy environment for businesses to succeed. Initiatives include:

• Accelerated depreciation to encourage technology adoption.

• Reform of FIF rules to support start-ups.

• City and regional deals to better coordinate development at a sub-regional level.

Local Government & Infrastructure

Acknowledging the complexity of 67 district councils and 13 regional councils, the PM signalled appetite for simplification through RMA reform and potential new models. He also underlined the importance of foreign investment in infrastructure to accelerate delivery beyond what government budgets alone can achieve.

Events & Regional Growth

Events were identified as a proven driver of regional economies. With new convention centres and $6m invested into Supercars in Christchurch, the Government is looking to adopt a structured events pipeline to attract visitors, conferences and international attention.

Key Challenges Ahead

The PM was frank about the hurdles:

• Managing a two-speed recovery across regions.

• Ensuring energy security during the transition.

• Rising insurance costs linked to natural hazards.

• Rebuilding confidence in an uncertain environment.

Canterbury at the Forefront

Throughout the discussion, Canterbury was singled out as “the sharp end of the spear” in driving New Zealand’s recovery. The region’s performance, resilience, and leadership were recognised as critical to lifting the whole country’s economic performance.

Closing Thoughts

The 2025 Prime Minister’s Lunch reinforced what many in the room already know — Canterbury is in a strong position, leading the country in growth, resilience, and confidence. But as Leeann Watson reminded both the Prime Minister and attendees, strength alone is not enough. To unlock the next chapter of growth, the region needs tailored investment, supportive policy settings, and a genuine partnership with Government.

The Q&A format made it clear that Canterbury’s business community is engaged, ambitious, and ready to be part of the solution. Behind the scenes, Business Canterbury has been working alongside the Canterbury Mayoral Forum and private sector leaders on the Canterbury Ambition — a shared vision that sets out what makes our region unique and the ingredients for long-term success.

That work is well underway, and we’ll keep members updated as the Canterbury Ambition moves forward.

👉 Keep an eye on our What’s On page for more upcoming events like this.