Canterbury/Waitaha comprises the largest land area by region in New Zealand/Aotearoa. It spans 44,508 km² from Kēkerengū in the north to the Waitaki River Catchment in the south. West to east it extends from the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri-o-te-moana to the eastern coastline, and 12 nautical miles out to sea - which is the limit of New Zealand's/Aotearoa territorial waters.

The diverse landscapes of Waitaha include the Canterbury Plains, 800km of coastline and 11,620km² of coastal marine area. It is home to approximately 64 percent of the country’s braided rivers and has a distinctive mix of urban areas and small settlements.

The largest urban area in Waitaha is Christchurch/Ōtautahi, which is also the biggest city in South Island/Te Waipounamu. There are 10 territorial authorities (district and city councils) in the region and Waitaha is home to 10 Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga.

Here we look at land cover and use, economy, jobs and trends and the ecosystem services our resources provide in Waitaha.