I’m writing in the first week of autumn. The weather may have been changeable, but it didn’t stop Hagley Park from coming alive with 90,000 people at Electric Ave. Over half the festival-goers came from outside the city, giving a welcome boost to our airport, hotels, and local businesses. Festivals like this are so important for our city bringing people together, showcasing what we can host, and reminding us how much we love to celebrate and enjoy life here.
Tourism is massive for New Zealand, and, as your local MP, I’m pleased to have helped secure $1 million last year to support targeted tourism marketing in Christchurch and Canterbury, helping grow our local economy and attract visitors.
This week Stats NZ announced total tourism expenditure in New Zealand reached $46.6 billion for the year ending March 2025, up 3.3% from 2024. Overseas visitors spent $18.1 billion, a 7% increase, with arrivals rising 4.3% to 3,320,687 people roughly the same as the entire population of Lithuania!
Tourism employment grew 2.8%, adding 8,874 jobs, and now supports 1 in 9 New Zealand workers. The sector contributes 7.7% of GDP and remains our second-largest export. Increased visitor spending flows directly into our regions, supporting local jobs, communities, and businesses.
February Highlights
Charity T20 Cricket Match – I joined the Prime Minister to raise funds for Betterman Mental Health
‘Unearthed Project’ – My wife Carol and I enjoyed this fascinating exhibition of artefacts uncovered during post-earthquake archaeological excavations.
Celebrations - Participating in a range of New Year events
(Photo: Lunar New Year dinner at Madam Kwong)
Clubs Day at Canterbury University
Kai Connect supports families in the Northcote & Bishopdale areas.
Canterbury Earthquake Memorial Service
Collecting for the Heart Foundation
If you’d like me to visit your event or group, please feel free to reach out to Larissa at larissa.gooding@parliament.govt.nz
There’s so much on the horizon for March and I’m excited to be involved in several events
6th All in for Arts and Chris Lynch Political Panel
7th The Kiwi-Indian Excellence Awards and Holi Festival of Colour
8th Walk for Dementia (raise funds for dementia care) and Canterbury Malaysian Society Chinese New Year Banquet
9th Connect with Kendal/Kia Ora Burnside, Kendal Reserve 5-7pm. Free Community event
13th Newstalk Radio - Political Panel with John McDonald. 10am
14th Collecting for Child Cancer 10 -11 am at Bunnings ChCh Airport
19th Visiting Burnside High School and Open Christchurch 2026 programme launch
20th Chris Lynch Political Panel
21st Culture Galore - Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre 455 Hagley Avenue midday to 4pm
22nd Coffee Catch up
23 66th Birthday of the Emperor of Japan.
27th Opening of NZ Stadium at Te Kaha and Te Ora Hau Community Event and Riccarton Culture Festival
28th Relay for Life – Cancer Society
29th White Ferns v SA ODI Hagley Oval
30th Citizenship Ceremony
Next weekend volunteers will be delivering 1000s of letters around the electorate. Some in the Avonhead area and others around Langdons Road which will be joining the Ilam electorate with the new boundary changes.
If any of you are able to assist us with delivering letters, please let me know Hamish.campbell@parliament.govt.nz
Here are some March events in the Ilam electorate that may interest you:
Public Consultation: Open for submissions
Government’s key announcements
Key learning support package rolls out for Term 1: The Government is delivering on its commitment to ensure every child gets the support they need to thrive, with major Budget 2025 learning support initiatives rolling out in schools as students return for Term 1 (Beehive PR)
Fewer victims of crime, more police on the beat: Figures show that there were 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime in the year to October 2025 than two years previously (Beehive PR)
Investment Boost driving real investment, lifting productivity: The Government’s Investment Boost is already changing investment behaviour, bringing projects forward, increasing scale, and lifting productivity across the economy (Beehive PR)
National Infrastructure Plan Delivered: Welcomed release of the National Infrastructure Plan tabled in Parliament (Beehive PR)
All wartime service now honoured on Anzac Day: Legislation to formally recognise all those who have served New Zealand in times of war as part of Anzac Day commemorations has passed in Parliament (Beehive PR)
KiwiSaver adjustment to help rural workers: The Government is removing the barriers that prevent many farm and other rural workers from using their KiwiSaver accounts to buy their first homes (Beehive PR)
Active Investor Plus delivers $3 billion in investment in New Zealand: Less than a year after it was refreshed, the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa is bringing $3.39 billion into New Zealand (Beehive PR)
December visitor arrivals highest since 2019: The Government welcomes new data showing New Zealand’s international visitor arrivals continued to rise in December, with strong growth from China and Australia in particular (Beehive PR)
Nearly 40,000 more building products approved: Thousands more plumbing and drainage products already used widely in Australia can now be accessed easily by Kiwi tradies and do-it-yourself homeowners (Beehive PR)
Feel free to share this email with friends and family who might like to stay in touch and connected with the community.
My Ilam office is in the Fendalton Village (cnr Ilam and Clyde Rds) and is open Mon-Fri from 9am – 3pm. You are welcome to pop in.
To make an appointment to meet me, call Leanne 03 3593665 or email hamish.campbell@parliament.govt.nz
Thank you for staying engaged and for continuing to share your views. I always welcome your feedback, whether in person, by email, or at community events.
Kind regards
Hamish Campbell
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