Better streets & spaces  |  2h ago

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The mall at New Brighton is getting a long-awaited upgrade, and Christchurch City Council is inviting the community to weigh in on its plans.

Work to revamp the pedestrian mall area has been in the pipeline for a decade. Now, with recent projects like He Puna Taimoana, the City to Sea Pathway, Marine Parade, and the New Brighton Beachside Playground all contributing to New Brighton's steady regeneration, and new developments like the Village Green Project and Pierside underway, the time is right to turn attention to the mall. 

Manager Planning and Delivery Transport Jacob Bradbury says the Council's plans have been informed by views in the community that the best way to draw people to spend time in the area is to improve the feel, safety and connectivity of Brighton Mall. 

“The mall’s main purpose is to act as a gateway between the pier, the beach and local businesses to give people in New Brighton easy access to hospitality, retail and services,” Mr Bradbury says. 

“To make it all flow better and be more welcoming, we’re looking at a range of changes and improvements.” 

Some of the elements the Council is considering include: 

  • New paving along the mall that incorporates the newly gifted name for the mall, Te Ara Kuaka, which means “the pathway of the godwit”. 

  • Creating a central gathering area in the mall, adjacent to the Village Green with bespoke seating, planting, irrigation and LED feature lighting.  

  • New streetlights, feature lighting of the palm trees and central gathering area, free public Wi-Fi and security cameras.  

  • Upgraded drainage with increased capacity.   

  • Cultural artwork in the central gathering area. 

  • New rubbish bins, drinking fountain and signage.  

  • Changing the mall's designation from Pedestrian Mall to Shared Zone, which will make it easier for people to access the mall in different ways, like cycle or skateboard. 

See the proposals in detail, ask questions and have your say at Letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/brightonmall 

To see the plans in person, visit the pop-up display inside New Brighton Library.

“We have $4.2 million earmarked for this revamp, and we're confident that this spend will go a long way towards lifting the amenity,” Mr Bradbury says. 

“There's already so much awesome stuff going on in the Brighton Mall area, and by simply linking it all together in an attractive way, we can really make the most of the regeneration that's already happening. 

“We’re working closely with Martini Investments, the Greater New Brighton Charitable Trust and ChristchurchNZ to make sure private and public developments integrate well.” 

Consultation on the plans is open until Sunday 1 February 2026, and work on the upgrades is expected to begin in Winter 2026.