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News and Updates from the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch residents are being urged to reduce their water use with hot and dry conditions forecast for the coming weeks. Water demand in Christchurch is increasing, and at peak times there’s already pressure on the water supply network. Top tips – Hold your hoses – Using a handheld hose to water your garden gives you…
Residents are being reminded to continue recycling correctly following a $16.8 million upgrade of the city’s recycling facility. EcoCentral has overhauled its Materials Recovery Facility in Parkhouse Road, Sockburn, using a $16.8 million grant that it received from the Ministry for the Environment’s special Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund. It has installed new equipment, including…
Canterbury Museum has found an ideal central city site for its pop-up museum and helped secure the future of a beloved Christchurch cultural institution in the process. The Museum will lease the CoCA Centre of Contemporary Art Toi Moroki building at 66 Gloucester Street from early February. From mid 2023, the building will house a…
Mark one of the world’s most celebrated festivals by heading down to your local library for a variety of colourful and diverse events. From 22 January to 5 February 2023, Christchurch City Libraries is hosting more than 30 different events to mark the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rabbit. “The celebration of…
Looking for a fun, laid back Sunday afternoon activity for the whole family? Summer Sundays gets underway at the Botanic Gardens this weekend with a session of jazz featuring punchy horns and smooth vocals. Run by Christchurch City Council, the popular, free series runs across four Sundays, with a different musical theme each week from…
Residents can now have their say on two Government bills that progress three waters reform. The Water Services Legislation Bill and Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Bill are currently out for public consultation. The Water Services Legislation Bill sets out how the new water services entities will operate, including what they’re required to…
An unusual crevice garden created just before the 2020 lockdown is proving a hit with local, out of town and international visitors to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. The garden is made of Halswell Quarry stone slabs set vertically and close together, the unusual topography creating microclimates where alpine, desert and cliff-dwelling plants can live in…
Voting is underway in the by-election to find someone to represent the Innes ward on the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board. “The by-election is being held by postal vote, and the voting papers have started arriving in letterboxes from today,” says Electoral Officer Jo Daly. “If you’re enrolled, you’ll find everything you need – a candidate…
Arts collective Pacific Sisters will play a key role in the final weekend of SCAPE Public Art and the final days of Te Pū o Te Wheke with a special Fiafia PIKNIK 2023 event this Saturday. Established in the early 90s, Pacific Sisters is one of the longest established Tangata Moana art collectives in the…
He Puna Taimona is closing temporarily so scheduled maintenance work can be carried out. From Thursday 16 February the popular New Brighton hot pools is closing its doors to the public to allow improvements to be made in and around the pools. It is expected to re-open on Friday 31 March 2023. He Puna Taimoana…
Christchurch Free Wi-Fi has reached a major milestone with over 100,000 connections from locals and visitors. Community-owned fibre broadband provider Enable and the Christchurch City Council launched the service last July as part of the city’s economic development and tourism strategies – providing a high-quality free Wi-Fi service that is key for any smart 21st…
Christchurch residents can help scientists in their efforts to learn more about New Zealand’s marine mammals with the new SeaSpotter app that Christchurch City Council has partly funded. The SeaSpotter app uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify marine mammals that people spot and photograph on their smartphones while at the beach or out boating. Data…
Christchurch is set to buzz over the next week with an action-packed line up of major events coming to the city. Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival The party is on the streets of Ōtautahi Christchurch this summer holidays, with an action-packed event programme of world-class busking pitches, fantastic ticketed shows and eye-popping free…
Christchurch City Council is meeting at 9.30am on Wednesday 25 January. The main items on the agenda for the public part of the meeting include: A review of the Council’s Policy for the Appointments and Remuneration of directors of Council-controlled organisations. A report on Councillor remuneration. A report that seeks the Council’s approval for a…
Spend some time with the kids in the sun and get outdoors this summer! Christchurch City Council Play Advocate Louise Van Tongeren has some ideas for the best ways to play in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. ONE: Spend some time in the water On top of our outdoor pools and paddling pools there are some…
Two years of successful trials that have seen wildflowers blooming in Hagley Park and recently near the Antigua Boatsheds will ideally be expanded into selected community parks next spring. An initial 1200 square metre area near Carlton Corner was sown in 2021 with a mix of wildflower species designed to attract bees, and provide a…
Treetech Sparks is celebrating its 40th birthday on Saturday 21 January. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy a cracker night at one of the city’s favourite events. Treetech Sparks is a free, all ages outdoor concert being held in North Hagley Park, with pre-show entertainment starting at 6.30pm, with Ambush Brass. The main…
Work on Te Kaha, Canterbury’s Multi-Use Arena, will hit a new milestone later this month when the first of the foundations’ major concrete pours is completed. Te Kaha Project Delivery Chief Executive David Kennedy says the lead contractor, BESIX Watpac, will oversee about 40 large concrete pours between 27 January and mid-August, as work begins…
Looking to explore the outdoors with your littlies these holidays? A walk is an awesome way to spend family time together and get some exercise, as well as learn about nature. Here are our top five toddler-friendly walks from around the city. Ernle Clark River Walk Time: 20 minutes return, buggy-friendly. Features: Big trees, Ōpāwaho/Heathcote River, swans…
Don’t pack away the jandals just yet, there’s still plenty of summer fun ahead. Christchurch City Council’s programme of summer events continues throughout January and February. Treetech Sparks Perennial favourite, Treetech Sparks, is back to delight the crowds and light up the Christchurch skies on Saturday 21 January from 6.30pm – 9.30pm. The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra…
Thousands of mountain bikers and walkers have explored two new trails above the lower half of Rapaki Track over the summer break. The Elevator dual-direction mountain bike trail and Kowhai walking trail opened in early December, and regional parks manager, Kay Holder, says they’re helping ease the pressure on the busy Rapaki Track. “Rapaki Track…
Latest update: 10/01/2023 Ōtākaro Chief Executive retiring January 2023 Ōtākaro Limited Chief Executive, John Bridgman, has announced he will be retiring as Chief Executive of Ōtākaro at the end of March. He will continue as a Director of both Waka Kotahi and Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities. Mr Bridgman has been at the helm…
Akaroa and its visitors are being called on to help protect a pair of at risk native birds and their newly hatched chick called Christmas. The pair of white-fronted terns/tara have a well-hidden nest, tucked between the wharf bearers and seemingly happy to co-exist with humans. It’s the second year in a row a pair…
While historical author Lucinda Riley and comedian Richard Osman are rising in the ranks of popular adult fiction, no one can bump Lee Child off the top spot. For the fifth year in a row, the British thriller writer (who is now co-writing with his brother) has taken out Christchurch City Libraries’ most popular adult…
Another portion of the Te Kuru stormwater facility in the upper catchment of the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River has been completed in time for summer. Walking and cycling tracks around the Sutherlands Basin section of Te Kuru are now open to the public. This adds 3km to the 4km of tracks opened to the public in…
Cycle lanes will be reinstated and traffic layout will return to normal on Main Road as work on the Te Ara Ihutai Christchurch Coastal Pathway pauses over the holiday period. Contractors Fulton Hogan have been working on the tricky final part of the Coastal Pathway between the eastern end of Redcliffs Village and Shag Rock,…
I Love Brighton is back in 2023 with new sponsors and an expanded line-up of activities. Held on Waitangi Day at Thomson Park the event began in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes, as a way to lift the spirits of the community and celebrate all that Brighton has to offer. Over the years it…
Seven people have put their names forward for the vacant Community Board position in the Innes ward of the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Ward. The position became available earlier this year following the resignation of Shreejana Chhetri, who was the successful candidate in the October 2022 local elections. Christchurch City Council Electoral Officer Jo Daly announced this…
Cyanobacteria, a potentially toxic algae, has been found within two more popular Christchurch waterbodies. Christchurch City Council Head of Three Waters Helen Beaumont says cyanobacteria has now been sighted along the Ōtākaro Avon River and the Ōtūkaikino River, including at The Groynes. “These sightings mean dog owners need to keep their pets safe and out of…
Safety upgrades to two busy intersections on Blenheim Road will begin early in the New Year. Christchurch City Council contractors will begin stormwater renewals, traffic signal upgrades, safety improvements for cyclists and pedestrians as well as kerb and channel works at the Hansons Lane and Annex Road intersections on Monday 9 January. They will be…