Joanna Norris is stepping down as CEO of Christchurch’s economic development agency ChristchurchNZ to work at media outlet Stuff.

Previously, Norris was the editor of the Christchurch Press.

Board chair Dr Therese Arseneau said “Joanna has shown extraordinary leadership during the past four years.”

“She has overseen the establishment of ChristchurchNZ as a highly effective agency and led with vision and unflappable calm during challenging times.”

Norris was instrumental in renaming Christchurch to Ōtautahi Christchurch in ChristchurchNZ’s marketing.

In ChristchurchNZ’s annual report it shows that in 2019, there was 15 staff on over $100,000 a year.

The following year, that increased to 20 staff, including five on over $200,000 a year.

There are seven general managers at ChristchurchNZ.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said “under Joanna’s leadership, ChristchurchNZ has become a pivotal agency, supporting our economy and our visitor and events industries through challenging times and I have always valued the advice and leadership that Joanna has provided.”

“She has been a champion for our city and I want to offer her my sincere thanks for her hard work and commitment.’’

Under her leadership, the agency has come under criticism.

In June, Former Christchurch mayor Garry Moore questioned the value of the city’s multi-million dollar economic development agency, saying it was not doing enough to grow jobs and industry – four years since its creation.

ChristchurchNZ received just under $12 million in ratepayer funding last year and was tasked with promoting the city.

But Garry Moore, who served three terms as mayor, told RNZ, there are enough tourism promoters already and the agency is focused on the wrong things.

Last year, The Christchurch Press reported ChristchurchNZ’s deputy Chair Kaila Colbin resigned from her position, despite the agency having already paid $250,000 to organisations she heads.

Dr Therese Arseneau said the team has delivered from the get-go, with activity ranging from establishing jobs and innovation growth programmes, through to building a long-term major events portfolio, forming partnerships with mana whenua, establishing Screen CanterburyNZ and reviving the city’s Antarctic Office, and more recently undertaking significant urban development projects within the city. 

Norris has accepted a newly established role as Chief Content Officer of “New Zealand-owned” media company Stuff.

The company has recently been awarded $300,000 from the Government agency New Zealand on Air to produce a “cultural competency” course.

It has also received $142,630 taxpayer dollars to produce a series based around a British family who became known to the NZ public as the ‘Unruly tourists’.’

Her last day with ChristchurchNZ will be October 29.