Top Digital Marketing Agencies In Christchurch For 2027
Dominic Tarn
Head Writer - ReVerb
10.23.2026
Meta description: Compare 10 digital marketing agency Christchurch options for 2027, with verified services, clients and published pricing.
Quick answer: For a full-service partner with a large in-house team, start with Plato Creative. For performance media, look at Empire9 or Innovate Digital. Ridiculous suits businesses focused on AI search visibility, and Thinkroom suits owners who want a senior strategist and no lock-in contract.
Christchurch businesses have a strong set of homegrown marketing agencies to choose from, ranging from 60-person creative firms to small teams of senior specialists. The city’s economy leans on construction, agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism and professional services, and many local agencies have built their client lists in exactly those sectors, from property developers and food producers to theaters and trades. Anyone looking for a digital marketing agency Christchurch firms already trust will find agencies that cover search, paid social, content, email and websites under one roof, alongside specialists that focus on one or two channels.
To put this list together we included only agencies whose own website gives an office or head office in Christchurch. We read each agency’s home, about, contact and service pages and kept only facts they publish: addresses, founding years, services, named clients, partner badges, awards and prices. Anything an agency does not publish has been left out. Agencies that run a Christchurch branch from a head office elsewhere, or that do not say where they are based, were not included. What follows is a shortlist of digital marketing agencies in Christchurch run from the city itself.
Digital Marketing Agencies In Christchurch At A Glance
Company
Location
Best For
Core Services
Plato Creative
Central City, Christchurch
Full-service brand and marketing programs
Marketing, branding, content, websites, AI solutions
Empire9
Central City, Christchurch
Google and Meta media buying
Search marketing, SEO, digital media, email, GA4
Innovate Digital
Burnside, Christchurch
Multi-platform paid ads
Google Ads, Meta Ads, SEO and AIO, CRM automation
Ridiculous
Central City, Christchurch
AI search visibility and technical SEO
GEO, SEO, Google Ads, CRO, analytics
Thinkroom
Ferrymead, Christchurch
Senior strategy without lock-in
Lead generation, SEO, social ads, content
Alexanders
Merivale, Christchurch
SMEs wanting coaching and Google Ads
Google Ads, SEO, web design, social strategy
hairyLemon
Central City, Christchurch
Marketing plus development and hosting
Creative, development, marketing, AI automations
Imagic Creative
St Albans, Christchurch
Brand strategy with digital products
Brand, digital products, content, marketing
Happy Monday
Upper Riccarton, Christchurch
Ecommerce and social for small businesses
Social media, Google Ads, websites, ecommerce
theCreator
Christchurch
Video-led social campaigns
Video production, social media, websites
Top Digital Marketing Agencies In Christchurch For 2027
1. Plato Creative: 60-Strong Team Behind Campaigns For Farmlands And ChristchurchNZ
Plato Creative was started in 2007 by two founders and now has a 60-strong team across strategy, brand, creative, marketing and technology. The agency was tested by the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, when it lost equipment and moved five times, and in 2016 it opened a purpose-built space on Manchester Street that serves as its main hub. It also has an Auckland office and an international team in Cebu through Plato Global.
Plato’s work spans marketing and advertising, branding and design, creative and content, websites and technology, and AI solutions, which makes it one of the few Christchurch agencies that can run a full brand and digital program without outside partners. Its published case studies include a ten-year partnership with Russells that the agency credits with eight-figure revenue growth, a commercial partnership with Southbase to support national growth, and a global brand transition for Kattsafe.
Its client list includes several well-known Canterbury names, including the Farmlands corporate website, Firstgas’s “Wouldn’t Be Without It” campaign, a ChristchurchNZ destination campaign and the Venues Ōtautahi website.
Services: Marketing and advertising, branding and design, creative and content, websites and technology, AI solutions
2. Empire9: Certified Google Partner And Meta Business Partner For Media Campaigns
Empire9 is a Christchurch digital marketing agency on Madras Street that has been operating for around a decade. Its strength is media: ad serving (including third-party ad serving), campaign planning, digital media buying, search marketing and SEO, plus a set of Google services covering Google Ads, Google Analytics 4, Google Business Profile, Display and Search Console.
Each client is assigned an account manager who connects them with the lead specialists for each channel and joins work-in-progress meetings. Team members each hold a specific industry niche. For branding, design and web or app development, Empire9 partners with Publica and shares internal communications and processes with that team.
Empire9 is a Certified Google Partner and a Meta Business Partner. Its client logos include some of Christchurch’s most recognized organizations.
Services: Ad serving, campaign planning, content capture and marketing, digital media, email and database, local SEO, search marketing, social media, training, Google Ads, GA4
Location: Level 1, 323 Madras Street, Christchurch 8013
Clients: Ngai Tahu Property, Ngai Tahu Tourism, Isaac Theatre Royal, Skellerup, Original Foods, The Kind Foundation, National Van Lines, Natural Paint Co, Warner Fences, Alpine Spas, Kiwibank, EcoCentral
3. Innovate Digital: Google, Meta, Shopify And Webflow Partner Since 2009
Innovate Digital has partnered with businesses since 2009 and works from Burnside. Its services combine paid media with the systems that convert leads: Google Ads and ChatGPT Ads, Meta Ads and social media marketing, SEO and AI optimization, website design and development, marketing strategy and CRM systems and automations.
The agency holds an unusually wide set of partner badges for a Christchurch firm: Official Google Partner, Meta Partner, Shopify Partner, Webflow Partner and Mailchimp Partner. It is also an Upstream supplier, and its site states that this work has funded NZ$19,515.29 in support hours for local charities.
Published case studies include a brand refresh for ACIM, digital growth work for Affordable Moving Solutions, and a website rebuild for As Is Where Is. Its contact form asks for monthly marketing budgets starting at NZ$1,000 and website budgets starting at NZ$5,000, which gives a sense of the projects it takes on.
Services: Google Ads, ChatGPT Ads, Meta Ads, social media marketing, SEO and AIO, website design and development, marketing strategy, CRM and automation
Clients: Affordable Moving Solutions, JAN-PRO, Ethos Plumbing, Carpet Now, ACIM, As Is Where Is
4. Ridiculous: Generative Engine Optimization And Technical SEO Specialists
Ridiculous is a Christchurch strategy agency on Lichfield Street that has spent two years building its practice around generative engine optimization (GEO), answer engine optimization and AI search, alongside traditional SEO and paid media. For businesses worried about how they appear in AI assistants as well as Google, it is the most focused option on this list.
Its services include AI strategy and GEO, digital performance strategy, technical SEO, digital PR, Google Ads, user experience and conversion rate optimization, analytics and marketing intelligence, international multi-region SEO, social media marketing on Meta and LinkedIn, and display and programmatic advertising. Client testimonials describe a small, experienced team led by CEO Santosh, and mention no contracts.
Its client list mixes Canterbury property and construction firms with consumer brands and venues.
Services: GEO and AI SEO, technical SEO, digital PR, Google Ads, CRO, analytics, international SEO, Meta and LinkedIn ads, programmatic advertising
Location: 2/128 Lichfield Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011
Clients: Belgotex, Dawes Dog Food, Home Capital Partners, Te Pae Christchurch, Citycare Property, Devart, CUT Clothing, Scout Recruitment, Saunders & Co.
5. Thinkroom: Senior Strategists, No Lock-In Contracts And A 20-Client Cap
Thinkroom started in Christchurch in 2012 and its registered address is in Ferrymead, with further offices in Noosa, the Gold Coast, Perth and London. Its model is deliberately small: the agency says it handles no more than 20 clients at a time across its senior strategists, and the Christchurch branch is run by Martin.
The service menu is built around lead generation. It covers Google Ads (including a Google Ads Leak Check), remarketing, SEO packages, local and YouTube SEO, backlink outreach, social media advertising on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, content and email marketing, marketing automation and web design. Thinkroom also offers chartered CFO advice and expansion planning, which is unusual for a marketing agency.
There are no lock-in contracts, budgets are scaled only once results are proven, and engagements begin with a three-hour strategy meeting. Thinkroom is one of the few agencies here to publish prices.
Services: Google Ads, remarketing, SEO, social media advertising, content and email marketing, marketing automation, web design, CFO advice
Location: First Floor, Unit 1/21 Humphreys Drive, Ferrymead, Christchurch 8023
Founded: 2012
Pricing: Social media packages from NZ$275 per month; partnerships from NZ$970 per month (the pricing page has conflicting GST notes, so confirm GST treatment)
6. Alexanders: Google Partner With Management Capability Fund Registered Services
Alexanders is a Merivale agency that says it has been trusted by NZ businesses for 29 years. It targets companies with more than five to ten staff and fewer than 50, a size range where owners often want both hands-on campaign management and coaching.
Its services cover Google Ads (Search, Shopping, Remarketing and Performance Max), SEO and AI recommendation visibility, web design, ecommerce development and hosting, Facebook ads management, Chinese marketing, marketing calendars, social media strategy and coaching retainers. Alexanders is a Google Partner, and its site states that its services are registered with the Management Capability Fund, so ask whether your business is eligible for funding.
New clients start with a 20-minute call, followed by a complimentary one-hour strategy meeting if there is a good fit. Ruralco card holders get a 10% discount.
Services: Google Ads, SEO, AI discoverability, web design, ecommerce, Facebook ads, Chinese marketing, social media strategy, marketing coaching
7. hairyLemon: Marketing, Development And Hosting For HamiltonJet And Tait
hairyLemon has its head office on High Street in central Christchurch and has been operating for about 20 years. It works across five areas: creative, development, marketing and advertising, hosting and security, and AI and automations. That mix suits businesses that want their campaigns, website and hosting looked after by one team.
Its portfolio is heavy on established Canterbury companies, including exporters, manufacturers, retailers and law firms. That makes it a practical choice for a business that needs marketing and technical web support from a long-running local agency.
Services: Creative, web development, marketing and advertising, hosting and security, AI and automations
8. Imagic Creative: Brand And Digital Agency Founded In Christchurch In 1994
Imagic was founded in Christchurch in 1994, when, as its site puts it, the internet was new, and it has kept brand, design and digital under one roof for more than three decades. The agency describes its offer as “one team, one plan,” covering brand strategy and identity, technology and digital products, creative and content, and digital marketing.
Its team page lists ten people, led by a managing director and general manager. Imagic built Science Alive+, a digital product that won Silver for Digital Products and Bronze for Value of Design at the 2026 Best Design Awards. It is a good fit for organizations that need a digital product or website built alongside the marketing that promotes it.
Services: Brand strategy and identity, digital products and websites, creative and content, digital marketing, marketing plans and campaigns
Location: Level 1/920 Colombo Street, St Albans, Christchurch 8014
Founded: 1994
Clients: Science Alive
Awards: Silver (Digital Products) and Bronze (Value of Design), 2026 Best Design Awards
9. Happy Monday: Meta, Google, Shopify And Klaviyo Partner For Ecommerce Brands
Happy Monday is a full-service website design, development and digital marketing agency based in Upper Riccarton. Its marketing services center on social media management and Google Ads management, delivered alongside website development, ecommerce builds, WordPress hosting and support, and branding and design.
The agency holds partner status with Meta, Google, Shopify, Rocketspark, WP Engine and Klaviyo, which covers the main platforms an online retailer uses to advertise, sell and email customers. It has packaged offers for startups and scaleups, and it also works with other agencies that need extra capacity on specific client projects.
Services: Social media management, Google Ads management, website development, ecommerce websites, WordPress hosting and support, branding and design
Location: Unit 6B, 303 Blenheim Road, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8141
Clients: Gavin Lowe Energy
10. theCreator: Video Production And Social Media Management For 50+ Brands
theCreator is a Ferry Road agency that combines video production, website design and development, and social media management and strategy. Client reviews also describe Meta and Google ad campaigns, and its project list includes e-learning production. For brands whose social channels depend on regular video content, having production and campaign management in one team removes a handoff.
The agency says it is trusted by more than 50 brands. Its client list leans toward Canterbury property, building and professional services firms, plus community and arts organizations.
Services: Video production, social media management and strategy, website design and development, Meta and Google ads, e-learning production
Location: 99 Ferry Road, Christchurch 8011
Clients: Harcourts, David Reid Homes, Sentinel Homes, Cavell Leitch, Christchurch Foundation, Neurofit, Tony Mounce Mortgages, International Aviation Academy, Flare Street Art Festival, Habitat for Humanity (Tonga)
How To Choose A Digital Marketing Agency In Christchurch
The best agency for you depends on which channels drive your sales, how much you can spend each month and how involved you want to be. Use these questions when you meet shortlisted agencies.
Do You Need A Full-Service Agency Or A Channel Specialist?
Full-service agencies such as Plato Creative, hairyLemon and Imagic can handle brand, website and campaigns together. Specialists go deeper on one area: Empire9 on media buying, Ridiculous on AI search and technical SEO, and theCreator on video-led social. If your brand and website are already in good shape, a specialist may give you more for the same budget.
Which Platform Partnerships Matter For Your Business?
Partner badges show that an agency meets a platform’s training and spend requirements. Ecommerce brands should look for Shopify and Klaviyo experience (Happy Monday, Innovate Digital). Lead generation businesses should prioritize Google and Meta partners such as Empire9, Innovate Digital and Alexanders.
What Are The Contract Terms?
Ask about minimum terms, notice periods and who owns the ad accounts and creative. Thinkroom advertises no lock-in contracts, and testimonials for Ridiculous mention the same. Always make sure your ad accounts sit in your own name so you keep the data if you change agencies.
How Will Results Be Reported?
A good digital marketing agency in Christchurch should agree on targets in advance (leads, sales, cost per acquisition) and report against them every month. Ask to see a sample report, and ask who you will speak to each week.
Is The Team Senior Enough For Your Budget?
Smaller agencies often give you direct access to senior people, while larger agencies bring more specialists. Ask who will actually work on your account and how many other clients they manage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does A Digital Marketing Agency Cost In Christchurch?
Few agencies publish prices. Thinkroom lists social media packages from NZ$275 per month and partnerships from NZ$970 per month, and Innovate Digital’s enquiry form starts at a NZ$1,000 to NZ$2,000 monthly marketing budget. Expect management fees on top of your ad spend for paid search and social, and ask each agency to separate the two in its proposal.
How Long Before Digital Marketing Shows Results?
Paid search and paid social can produce leads within weeks of launch, although campaigns usually need a few months of testing to settle. SEO and AI search visibility take longer, often several months, because they depend on content, technical fixes and links building up over time.
Should I Hire A Local Christchurch Agency?
A local agency understands the Canterbury market, can meet in person and often already works with similar businesses nearby. Many Christchurch agencies also serve clients nationally, so a local team does not limit your reach.
What Is The Difference Between SEO And Digital Marketing?
SEO is one channel within digital marketing. A digital marketing agency typically also handles paid ads, social media, email and analytics. If organic search is your main focus, see our list of Top SEO Agencies In Christchurch For 2027.
More New Zealand Lists
Looking for other Christchurch suppliers or agencies elsewhere in New Zealand? These lists use the same research method.
Plato Creative is the strongest choice for businesses that want a large in-house team running brand, website and campaigns together, while hairyLemon and Imagic offer full-service work from long-running local agencies. For paid media, Empire9 and Innovate Digital bring Google and Meta partner status, and Alexanders adds coaching for smaller firms.
Ridiculous is the pick for AI search and technical SEO, Thinkroom suits owners who want senior strategists without a lock-in contract, Happy Monday fits ecommerce and small business social, and theCreator is the option for video-led social campaigns.
Bookmark this guide to make a well-informed decision. If you want to add your company to this list, drop us a line or submit a form in the Top Choices section. After a thorough review, we will decide whether it is an appropriate addition.
