Industry & Sector Wide Insights
Shaping Timaru’s future
Be Inspired, Stay Engaged and Get Involved
As we work together to bring the Towards 2050 plan to life, it's crucial that we look beyond our immediate community and explore wider industry trends, innovations, and successful models that can inspire and guide us. The articles and reports shared here will highlight key themes around economic growth, sustainability, workforce development, and community well-being—offering valuable perspectives on how Timaru can evolve to meet both local and global challenges.
These thought-provoking resources are meant to spark conversations, provoke innovative thinking, and encourage a forward-thinking mindset that aligns with the long-term vision for our district. Whether you’re a business leader, educator, environmental advocate, or just someone passionate about the future of Timaru, we believe that these insights will help us all think critically about the steps needed to build a thriving, resilient community.
The Towards 2050 journey is not just about planning—it’s about actively shaping the future of Timaru together. We encourage you to engage with the articles, share your thoughts, and keep the dialogue going. Your ideas and feedback are vital in ensuring that the plan reflects the needs, dreams, and aspirations of everyone in our community.
Explore the latest reports, discover innovative solutions from other sectors, and let these insights fuel your thinking as we continue to create a Timaru that is not only ready for the future but is actively shaping it.
Take a moment to explore the latest reports and articles
Thursday, 03 April 2025
Proactive environmental actions, like sustainable practices and decarbonization efforts in Timaru, enhance economic growth and environmental well-being. Initiatives like Sustainable is Attainable and Powering Up show how businesses and communities can create a cleaner, prosperous future.
Wednesday, 01 January 2025
"This report emphasizes that Timaru's economy could triple by 2050 with ambition and transformation. Achieving this requires substantial productivity gains, new industries, and investments in skills, resources, housing, infrastructure, and social capital to drive growth."
Wednesday, 01 January 2025
"The growth of New Zealand’s tech sector presents a tremendous opportunity for our Timaru District. According to NZTech, in 2023, New Zealand’s tech sector contributed nearly $23 billion to the national GDP, becoming the third largest export sector after dairy and tourism"
Wednesday, 01 January 2025
" Understanding future global consumer food demands will ensure New Zealand's resilience and growth. This report explores demographic changes, consumer preferences, and potential opportunities to strengthen our country’s food exports by 2050."
Thursday, 06 February 2025
South Canterbury businesses are encouraged to explore the economic benefits of SouthPAN, a satellite technology improving GPS accuracy. This system, enhancing various industries, will boost productivity and reduce costs. The project starts at Timaru’s Richard Pearse Airport.
Friday, 21 February 2025
This article by Nick Brunsden of Infometrics discusses New Zealand’s rising labour force participation, driven by increased female and older worker participation, but highlights the challenges posed by an aging population. It calls for productivity improvements to sustain economic growth.
Thursday, 27 February 2025
This article poses ideas for AI adoption and automation to help drive transformational change, improving productivity and a work smarter not harder approach for our Timaru district, Towards 2050. AI adopters and tech innovators, South Pacific Seras Production Director, William Rolleston shares his insights