The Selwyn District has the fastest growing population in New Zealand – BERL 2010
The Selwyn District is the fastest growing region in New Zealand. It extends 150km west from Christchurch City to the snow-capped crests of the Southern Alps and Arthur's Pass National Park.
It is 649,000ha in area and is bounded north and south by the mountain-fed Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers both of which contribute significant supplies of water for the region’s irrigation needs.
Agriculture is Selwyn’s main economic driver. Viewed from the air the flat Canterbury plains are a patchwork of sheep and dairy farms, as well as high value horticultural produce ranging from ‘smart’ cereals to wasabi.
Fertile alluvial soils combined with an abundance of pristine water further contribute to the region’s sound economic underpinnings. Selwyn’s vast underground water resource is the envy of the rest of New Zealand, delivering some of the purest potable water supplies in the world.
Living close to Christchurch, currently nearly half the main income earners in the district commute to the city for work.
As the population of Rolleston and surrounding Selwyn district continues to grow, the available work force also increases.
It has been estimated that around 200,000 people live within around a half hour drive of Izone.
Employees in Selwyn District: 7,600
Note: 45-50% of these employees work outside of Selwyn District
Selwyn is drier and sunnier than most parts of New Zealand. Summers have generally been getting hotter and drier and winters are becoming more mild, with fewer frosts and less rain.