The most consequential changes in Greater Christchurch over the next decade will not happen in the central city. They will happen in Halswell, Wigram, Rolleston, Lincoln and Prebbleton — the suburbs and satellite towns where the population is growing fastest and where the next generation of households are choosing to put down roots.

These places are not new. But the scale and pace of growth around them has begun to outstrip the pace at which schools, public transport, healthcare and community infrastructure have followed. The mismatch shows up in long commutes, crowded classrooms and limited weekend options outside the home.

Coordinating across the Christchurch City and Selwyn District boundaries has always been politically awkward, but it has never been more necessary. The Greater Christchurch Partnership exists for this reason, and the next decade will test whether it is fit for the scale of the task.

If we get this right, Christchurch will continue to be one of the most liveable cities in the country. If we do not, we will spend the 2030s trying to retrofit infrastructure that should have been built today.