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The former Community Centre at 10 Shirley Road was damaged by the Canterbury earthquakes and demolished in 2012. Previously, the centre was home to a number or organisations and programmes that contributed towards community connectivity. Following demolition of the building, community activity and demand shifted away from the reserve. The reserve was fitted with recreational…
Earth and marine scientist Dr Joyce Yager knows this better than most and is keen to learn more about the invertebrates that call Whakaraupō home and share this information with the wider community. What’s been found in the marine hotels Invertebrates and other sea creatures found on the marine hotels have included: polychaete worms bryozoans…
Staff will now start preparing the draft plan, which they will then present to councillors in February 2026 before going out for public feedback. Chief Financial Officer Bede Carran says the options have been developed by the new council in a series of workshops held since October’s local elections. “Councillors have workshopped different ways of…
Christchurch City Council contractors collect about 20 to 30 truckloads of recycling every weekday, which equated to 26,167 tonnes over the last year. Throughout 2025, the vast majority of this material was recycled, with just 1 per cent of truckloads sent to landfill due to contamination of non-recyclable material. Resource Recovery Manager Dr Alec McNeil…
Christchurch City Council Acting Animal Services Manager Ivan Trethowen says people love getting out and about with their furry friends over the summer period, but it’s important that everyone sticks to the rules. “This helps keep everyone safe, by protecting swimming and recreation areas that fill up when it is hot.” The Summer Beach Prohibition…
There’s so much art to enjoy at the Gallery right now so plan a visit to immerse yourself in the coolest cultural spot in the city. Plan your visit to Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū – the coolest spot in town this summer! Open daily: 10am – 5pm Closed: 25 December (Christmas Day) Late night Wednesdays: open until 9pm (except…
“Every summer when temperatures rise, we see household water demand rise sharply as people water gardens and lawns,” Christchurch City Council’s Head of Three Waters Gavin Hutchison said. Making small changes can have a big impact on water use and help you avoid charges Hold your hoses! Using a handheld hose or watering can use a lot less water. Water…
The Royal Commission on Abuse in Care, established in 2018, identified that many people who had historically died in psychiatric care had been buried in unmarked plots. In Christchurch, many who died in the former Sunnyside Hospital between the 1890s and the 1980s were interred in Sydenham Cemetery. The full number of unmarked graves in…
The 2026 season of Anthony Harper Summer Theatre is a fun-filled, laugh-a-minute journey into Middle Earth (and back again!) Running from 9-25 January, the show brings you a playful spin on Tolkien’s famous trilogy, says Christchurch City Council Manager of Events and Arts Lucy Blackmore. “Buckle up for an evening filled with irreverent delight. There’ll…
Christchurch City Libraries staff compile a list each year of the most issued books, with In too deep from the Jack Reacher series coming in at number one for 2025. Second and third on the list went to We solve murders by Richard Osman and We all live here by Jojo Moyes while former Prime…
The event, running from 12-18 January 2026, includes 17 programmes, such as robot-themed puppet story sessions, a robot themed scavenger hunt, the technology library van experience, and talks to learn more about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Head of Libraries and Information Erica Rankin says the week is a fun and engaging way for people of all…
The Copenhagenize Index, published every two years, is the most comprehensive and holistic ranking of bicycle-friendly cities in the world. It provides an evidence-based benchmark that tracks how cities across the globe are progressing in making cycling safe, convenient, and mainstream. Planning and Delivery Transport Manager Jacob Bradbury says this is a great result and…
As part of the Place Cadets programme by Gather Landscape Architecture, the primary-school students have spent the last five months undertaking a full co-design process for a play structure in their local park. The project involved mapping their neighbourhood, learning about the park’s wetland history, conducting a site visit, developing a brief, making scale models,…
Thousands flock to the beachside suburb for the annual Kite Day event, with first-timers and seasoned pros alike taking to the skies with their colourful creations. Events and Arts Manager at Christchurch City Council Lucy Blackmore says it always brings a buzz of excitement to New Brighton. “Kite Day is the ultimate family-friendly beach day…
Christchurch City Council Manager of Community Parks Al Hardy says the play space took around two months to build. “We’ve worked with the Scouts to develop the plans, and it’s shaping up to be a really fun place for tamariki to come and play, explore nature and learn about some local history.” The play space…
Located within Te Whare Tapere The Performing Arts Precinct, the carpark holds 61 parks, including five accessible parks. The new carpark will provide easier access to the precinct for audience members, and visitors to the central city. To ensure a focus on supporting nearby venues, the Christchurch City Council granted a license to operate the…
Pool Party – Summer Palooza Round up your friends and whānau for an epic afternoon at Te Hāpua Halswell Summer Pool this Saturday. Bounce, slip, slide, and splash on our slides, bouncy castles, GIANT inflatables, and obstacle course! Plus, enjoy face painting, and a free ice cream courtesy of our mates at Streets. Come along…
Tracing the source of a Hagley Park oil discharge and preventing future spills Something’s not quite right in an urban waterway running through Hagley Park. In Addington Brook, Christchurch, a small oil discharge has been found, and we’re asking the local community to check their properties for leaks and report spills that you see. Source…
Our fire team is ready to respond Large or multiple fires can stretch Fire and Emergency volunteer resources – that’s when our very own fire team steps in. From Kainga to the front line Source link
Be a smart skipper and keep your distance Waitaha Canterbury’s harbours are busy places. Large ships can’t stop quickly, and small boats are hard to see — a dangerous mix that can lead to disaster in seconds. Staying clear of big ships isn’t just good practice. It’s the law, and it could save your life. Why you need to keep clear…
Check it’s all right before you light: plan ahead for stubble burning As summer approaches, many Canterbury farmers are preparing for crop residue burning – commonly called stubble burning. It’s an important part of arable farming, but it comes with responsibilities to help keep our communities safe. Why planning matters Stubble burning helps manage soil…
Canterbury has extraordinary potential. We’re home to world-leading agricultural innovation, growing tech and advanced manufacturing sectors, internationally recognised universities, and natural assets that attract visitors from around the globe. We have everything needed to compete with the best regions worldwide. But we’re competing with one hand tied behind our backs. While successful regions overseas coordinate…
Dr Deon Swiggs | Chair, Environment Canterbury & LGNZ Regional Sector The Government wants to scrap regional councillors to “simplify” local government. They say it will cut duplication and make things clearer for ratepayers. I’ve written about the internal contradictions in their proposal: The Questions Government Must Answer About Scrapping Regional Councillors But there’s a…
The Government wants fundamental change to how regions are governed. As Chair of Environment Canterbury and the LGNZ regional sector, I support reform that improves outcomes for communities. Change is needed – the question is what kind of change actually works. These questions deserve answers before we make changes we can’t undo. The Government’s proposal…
Swimming after rain: what our new water-quality model really shows Recent media coverage has suggested large parts of Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour – and almost a third of Waitaha Canterbury’s monitored swimming spots – are unsafe for swimming following recent rainfall. We want to clarify what our water-quality monitoring is actually telling us, and how people…
A summer of action on Waitaha Canterbury’s rivers – our flood protection projects Flooding is Aotearoa New Zealand’s most frequent natural hazard – and it’s getting worse as our climate changes. Across Waitaha Canterbury, we’ve seen the impact first-hand: homes damaged, roads cut off and communities disrupted. It’s a big challenge, but as your regional…
Resource Management reform – a reality check for Canterbury The next three months will test Canterbury’s governance like nothing we’ve seen in decades. In the past month alone, central government has dropped three new bills, an amendment, multiple changes to national direction instruments, proposed rates caps, and a complete governance restructure on our desk. We’re…
Cleaner air for Waitaha Canterbury: Celebrating our region’s progress towards clear air Thanks to 25 years of regional planning, regulation, and community action, air quality across Waitaha Canterbury has improved dramatically — with high-pollution days dropping from up to 60 a year in some towns to fewer than 10 today. Monitoring across our seven towns…
Summer safety alert: Beware of rising river levels and unpredictable weather Before heading to your favorite Canterbury rivers or lakes this summer, check the weather forecasts and river conditions, especially for rainfall in the Southern Alps. Hot, dry nor-west winds often signal heavy rain in alpine headwaters, which can cause rivers to rise quickly —…
Do your bit to stop rubbish dumping at rivers and beaches this summer As the weather warms up, we’re reminding everyone that Illegal rubbish dumping harms the environment and leaves ratepayers footing the bill, and those caught can face hefty fines. Each summer, we receive reports from concerned locals region-wide about large piles of dumped…