The vision of the Canterbury Mayoral Forum is: 'a region making the most of its natural advantages to build a strong, innovative economy with resilient, connected communities and a better quality of life for all.'

Mayors are taking action now to prevent a slump in Canterbury’s economy as the earthquake rebuild levels off. The goal is to ensure the long-term economic prosperity and social wellbeing of the Canterbury region.

The Mayoral Forum comprises the Mayors of the ten territorial authorities and the chair of the Canterbury regional council (Environment Canterbury).

Mayors have developed this strategy through workshops and conversations with a wide range of partners (including Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the Canterbury Development Corporation, the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and the Committee for Canterbury) and stakeholders from the farming, manufacturing, tertiary education, business, telecommunications, transport and tourism sectors.

The strategy is not a ‘study’ or a ‘report’ but an action plan focusing on what Mayors can achieve by providing leadership, facilitation and advocacy. The Forum will continue to review the achievement of agreed actions quarterly and is working with the Canterbury Development Corporation to develop indicators to monitor whether its objectives are being achieved and to help identify further actions required.

In February 2016, the Mayoral Forum adopted a Canterbury Digital Strategy as a companion strategy to the CREDS, and an action plan for 2016, to achieve 'a fully connected Canterbury'. Work is in progress on a Canterbury Visitor Strategy.

For further information contact:

Dr David Bromell, secretariat, Canterbury Mayoral Forum
T: 027 839 2708; E: david.bromell@ecan.govt.nz