Phone answering service, Christchurch and Canterbury
A phone answering service for Christchurch and Canterbury businesses
Hello is an AI phone answering service for Christchurch trades, practices and shops. It answers calls, website chat and email 24/7, books jobs into your calendar, texts you anything urgent and emails you a summary of every call. Keep your 03 number: forward it to Hello when you're busy or closed, and callers ring the number they've always rung.
Local facts
8,933
new homes consented in Canterbury in the year to August 2026, up 35%, the fastest growth of any region
48,228
business locations in Christchurch City, and 82,431 across Canterbury, February 2025
Source: Stats NZ business demography, February 2025, via Figure.NZ (by city)
Fri 13 Nov 2026
Christchurch Show Day, observed in North and Central Canterbury
Source: Employment NZ, Public holidays and anniversary dates
Canterbury is building, and the phone is ringing
Canterbury consented 12.8 new homes per 1,000 residents in the year to August 2026, the highest rate in the country. That's a lot of quotes, site visits and call-outs for builders and trades who are already flat out. Hello answers while you're on the tools and has the job details waiting when you stop.
After-hours answering when storms hit
The October 2025 storms led to 16,885 insurance claims across the South Island, and Environment Canterbury declared a state of emergency on 23 October. Hello answers every call at once, gives callers the safety steps you approve and texts urgent jobs to whoever is on call.
A virtual receptionist without the payroll
SEEK puts the national receptionist average at $55,000 to $65,000 a year. Even at the adult minimum wage of $23.95 an hour, NZ$149 + GST buys about six hours of someone's time. Hello Solo answers every call for a whole month. Christchurch practices often keep their front desk and use Hello for lunch, overflow and after hours.
Christchurch businesses Hello is built for
Business locations in Christchurch City by industry, February 2025. Each link shows how Hello handles calls for that trade.
| Industry | Business locations |
|---|---|
| House construction | 1,836 |
| Cafes, restaurants and takeaways | 1,698 |
| Legal and accounting | 828 |
| Automotive repair | 639 |
| Hairdressing and beauty | 609 |
| Electrical services | 603 |
| Plumbing services | 330 |
| Dental services | 300 |
Source: Stats NZ business demography, February 2025, via Figure.NZ (by city)
Keep your local number
Canterbury callers know your 03 number, so keep it. Forward it to Hello when you're busy or closed. Every plan also includes an 09 number for a second line. Landlines, 0800 and 0508 numbers can be moved to Hello in 6 to 8 weeks.
Business support in Christchurch
Hello is made by Leadica in Auckland and works the same anywhere in New Zealand. For local business advice and networks, start here.
Questions
What does a phone answering service in Christchurch cost?
Hello Solo is NZ$149 + GST a month. Team is NZ$3,588 + GST a year for busier teams.
Can I keep my 03 number?
Yes. Forward it to Hello and callers keep ringing the number they know.
Does Hello know Show Day?
Set your holiday hours in the app and Hello tells callers when you're open again. South Canterbury has its anniversary on a different day, so set the one that applies to you.
Can Hello cope with a rush of calls after a storm?
Yes. Hello answers several calls at once and texts urgent jobs to whoever you choose.
How fast can we go live?
The same day. Hello sets itself up from your website and you forward your calls.
Written by Phil Dossett, co-founder of Leadica, the Auckland company that makes Hello. Facts checked 21 October 2026.
Sources
Also read: How an AI receptionist works in NZ and After-hours answering.
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