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Greater Ōtautahi

@greater-otautahi.bsky.social
1.3K followers 234 following 254 posts

We advocate for more neighbours, better active transport, and better public transport in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
We’re proud to announce that Sinéad Gill from The Press will be joining @StuartBDonovan and Mark Gregory for our panel discussion on a City of 1.5 Million on October 20 — next Monday! We are sold out, however a recording will be available soon after the event.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
We’re proud to announce that Mark Gregory, Chartered Transport Planning Professional and chair of the Transportation Group, will be joining @StuartBDonovan for our panel discussion on a City of 1.5 Million on October 20. Tickets are nearly sold out, grab one below 👇
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
NEW STARTER PACK! This time I’m hoping to encourage and support global urbanists from OUTSIDE North America here on Bluesky, so hopefully this will help! Who’ve I missed? Just joined? Let me know! I’ll keep updating, so please keep checking & sharing this pack! And let’s try using #GlobalUrbanists.
go.bsky.app
Urbanists OUTSIDE North America Worth Following!
Join the conversation
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Greater Ōtautahi is proud to welcome urban economist Stuart Donovan for a special event, A City of 1.5 Million? Join us for an insightful event exploring why Christchurch needs to think bigger—and the benefits that come when we do. More information and booking link below 🧵🔗
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
New post by Greater Ōtautahi: Want Light Rail? Think MDRS. Councillors are currently deciding where medium density zoning will be implemented across Christchurch. However, their approach will actively risk mass rapid transit being constructed at all. Have a read below 👇
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Keen for some kai and kōrero about all things urbanism? Come along to Greater Ōtautahi's July social hui 🏡 ⏰ Thursday 17th July, 6:00pm 📍Little High Everyone is welcome— we hope to see you for some great chats 🫶🏻
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
And to cap off a great day, The Spinoff did a piece on us and our mahi!
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
HUGE news today: Chris Bishop has made his decision on the council's Plan Change 14, and it's a massive win for the city. 🎉 🥳 Here’s what was approved and disapproved🧵👇
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Reminder — on tomorrow! Weather is looking conducive for a meeting of the City's greatest urban ponderers, full of reckons to share (that includes you, dear Bluesky user)
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
New article: Townhouses! Where will the kids go? 🏘️👩‍👩‍👧🌳 "Sometimes townhouses are presented as replacing housing that traditional families would otherwise have lived in — though is this actually the case?" Have a read, linked below 👇
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Keen for some kōrero and kawhe about all things urbanism and Ōtautahi? We're back at Foundation cafe for May's social hui! 🫡 Everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there for an amazing time! 📍 Foundation cafe, Tūranga 🕛 Saturday, 24th May, 12pm
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
We are glad to see that Minister Bishop has declined the Council's request for yet another extension on rules that would have allowed more homes to be built in areas where people want to live — delaying this would have been another attempt to kick the can down the road. 🧵
An image of a three-story townhouse on a modern paved street. The townhouse is made of bricks, and the road is paved with cobbles.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Motu Move readers have a hidden feature! The QR code reader at the bottom could be used for event tickets. Imagine scanning your Warriors game ticket to get a free bus ride to Te Kaha! Integrating public transport like this will be critical for making Te Kaha a success.
A new card scanner mounted to a Metro bus in Christchurch, New Zealand. The device is roughly square, with curved corners. On the top half is a screen. The screen reads "Tag below" with an arrow pointing downwards. Below this in the middle of the reader is a large blue diamond that reads "Motu Move". It has a contactless payment icon on it. At the bottom is a small icon of a QR code with an arrow pointing downwards. At the bottom are three holes, which house scanning cameras for reading QR codes. Text has been superimposed that reads "Hidden feature!" with an arrow pointing to the central camera hole.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Christchurch has a rich history of trams on our streets. It used to be how people got around the city quickly; now it's a tourist attraction. But what if we had a modern tram system like Amsterdam or Melbourne? Check out this video from #NotJustBikes all about trams youtu.be/bNTg9EX7MLw
Route map of the Christchurch Tramway Board tramway system in Christchurch, New Zealand as it was in the 1920s. N.B. The base road map used here is for reference only and no attempt has been made to make it commensurate with the era in which the tramway operated. 

Created by Matthew25187 at en.wikipedia in 2010, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0 using an OpenStreetMap basemap licensed CC BY-SA https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16444255
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
For those coming to our social hui, we’re at the back left corner of Boom Boom Chicken
Interior of boom boom chicken showing where we areEntrance to boom boom chicken
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Tonight's your last chance to have your say on the Moorhouse Avenue pedestrian safety improvements! These changes will make some intersections along Moorhouse significantly nicer by foot, so make sure you make a submission. letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/safetyonmoor...
letstalk.ccc.govt.nz
Moorhouse Avenue pedestrian safety improvements
We have a plan to make two intersections on Moorhouse Avenue safer and more accessible. Tell us what you think by 21 April 2025.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
Love seeing progress on a denser, livelier city! This proposed building’s weird shape is caused by recession planes (rules forcing upper floors to step back). Are they beneficial, or do they lead to less functional and less aesthetically pleasing buildings?
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Keen for some kōrero and kai about all things urbanism? We're back at Little High Eatery this April for this month's social hui! 📍 Little High Eatery (indoors dining area— we'll post our table on our socials!) 🕠 Tuesday, 22nd April, 5:30pm
A photo of Ōtautahi urbanists chatting and catching up. The caption reads “Come join us at Greater Ōtautahi’s social hui! Little High Eatery (255 Saint Asaph Street) Tuesday April 22nd, 5:30pm. Everyone is welcome!”
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Jessica de Heij @jdeheij.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Calling all Ōtepoti Dunedin urbanists! Join us for an informal catchup, where people interested in urban issues meet for a casual beer and conversation, with special guest @studonovan.bsky.social It would be great to see you there! Send me a DM if you're keen.
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David Palmer @cloventt.net · 11/04/2025
Also, shoutout to Cody who did our submission on behalf of @greater-otautahi.bsky.social just after me, he did a much better job than I did! DCs are an important tool for directing how we want our city to grow. We need to use them well. www.youtube.com/live/Iae2qhZ...
youtube.com
11.04.25 - Council Annual Plan
YouTube video by Christchurch City Council Live
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Ōtautahi people! The City Council wants *your* feedback on their draft annual plan. We've put together a handy dandy submission guide to give you some ideas on what to say. Submissions close TOMORROW EVENING so get in quick! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com
GŌ Submission Guide - CCC Annual Plan 2025 (closes 28/03/25)
Greater Ōtautahi Submission Guide to the Christchurch City Council’s 2025/26 Annual Plan About Us Greater Ōtautahi is a non-partisan group of Ōtautahi Christchurch residents who want to help create a ...
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Greater Ōtautahi member Harrison McEvoy is back at it with another Local Politics 101 article! This time, he explains the machinery of Christchurch's local government—what organisation does what. Specifically, the unsung heroes of locals: Community Boards! Have a read 👇 substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Local Politics 101: Splitting the Atom
Christchurch City Council is actually several little councils in a trench coat.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
There's been some controversy about this design and its cost blow out! Our thoughts, and link to The Press article detailing it below 👇🧵
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Greater Ōtautahi member Harrison McEvoy wrote another excellent Substack article, giving an accurate and informative overview of the current Council and political dynamics. As we’re heading towards a local government election this year, it’s worth a read! Link below 👇
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David Palmer @cloventt.net · 27/02/2025
Walking back from the Mayoral Forum and there were more cyclists on Park Terrace than cars. Mixture of commuters and families with young kids out for a ride. Can’t beat Ōtautahi on a nice evening.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Good news! Earlier today Council agreed to press on with upgrades to Antigua Street, including adding a cycleway. It makes sense to upgrade the transport network around Parakiore now, ready for the estimated 10k people who will be using it every day when it opens.
An aerial plan of Antigua Street showing the planned upgrades. The streets has new gardens and trees and protected cycleways.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
The Press had an excellent article today on the Wharenui Sports Centre in Riccarton—once on the brink of closure, it has seen a 400% increase in attendance and an overall profit. This provides a perfect example of economies of scale thanks to density! 🧵 www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3605...
thepress.co.nz
How a pool complex facing closure is turning its fortunes around
Five years ago Christchurch’s Wharenui Sports Centre was facing closure and losing money. Now it’s making a profit and more people are using it.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Reminder that this is TONIGHT!
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Ōtautahi whanau! Keen for some kai and kōrero about all things urbanism? Come along to Greater Ōtautahi's February social hui 🏡 ⏰ Saturday 15th February, 5:30pm 📍Little High (Courtyard) Everyone is welcome— we hope to see you for some great chats 🫶🏻
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El Yobo @elyobo.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
This is pretty wild. Good work @greater-otautahi.bsky.social but that should not be necessary!
Text: She could have decided to participate regardless. But there are rules against councillors voting on things which could benefit them financially - they could be personally taken to court and lose their elected position - and only the office of the Auditor General (OAG) can grant an exemption.

Unbeknownst to her, the OAG did grant her an exemption, agreeing her participation was in the public interest.

Donovan said she only learnt of that decision around the beginning of February because of an official information act request by urbanist group Greater Ōtautahi.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
We made an OIA request to understand why some councillors were excluded from voting on Plan Change 14. Turns out, some of them weren't! So upzoning of Sydenham is back on the cards next week! www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3605...
thepress.co.nz
'For the sake of democracy': Sydenham rezoning vote back with council
A block of prime industrial land on the edge of central Christchurch might be opened up for residential development, after new information came to light.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Now that the dust has settled, what can Christchurch learn from the Meet Me on Gloucester project? And what the heck is "tactical urbanism"? greaterotautahi.nz/tactical-urb...
greaterotautahi.nz
Tactical Urbanism on Gloucester Street
In the summer of 2023/2024, a central-city street in Christchurch underwent a major transformation. The road surface was painted, planters with trees appeared, benches went in and even a public perfor...
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
We’re disappointed that Christchurch City Council staff apparently discouraged a developer from building a mixed-use apartment building behind Victoria Mansions, because it would “dominate” the existing building. Instead we’re getting… yet more flat car parks!
A picture of Victoria Mansions at the corner of Montreal and Victoria Streets in Christchurch NZ. Alongside a large empty lot is visible. An arrow pointing to the empty lot reads “Build something here please!” And the caption reads “We need more buildings, not car parks!”
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
New York streets sometimes get closed to become a playground for local kids. This fosters a stronger sense of community and gets kids out of the house. We had a trial of this in Ōtautahi in 2020, would be so cool to see more of these pop up out in the suburbs!
A black-and-white photo of a New York street in the 1960s. A large sign with black text on a white background reads "PLAY STREET No thru traffic, No Parking in this block, 8am to 11pm except sunday". Behind the sign, children can be seen playing a game of volleyball in the street. Chalk on the road outlines other games like hopscotch the kids can play.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
We wrote to Chris Bishop, Minister for RMA Reform, to give our pro-housing take on the Christchurch City Council's alternative recommendations on the District Plan changes. You can read it below: t.co/HOPNDcWcRv
t.co
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MCb4sw0b67CHSTqmnMXUhxjGCgQ0SkQ9/view?usp=drive_link
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Hank Green @hankgreen.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
The take I am most certain of that gets me in the most trouble is just "The reason homes are so expensive is because there are not enough of them, so we really really really need to build more of them."
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Spokes Canterbury @spokescanterbury.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
This is awesome - Ōtautahi Christchurch is a cycling city! 🚲❤️ www.newsline.ccc.govt.nz/news/story/c...
newsline.ccc.govt.nz
Christchurch hits cycling milestone
Cycling in Christchurch is at an all-time high with more than four million trips clocked in 2024.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Ōtautahi peeps! Come join us tonight 6pm @ Smash Palace! We'll be hearing from Joey Shannon, Director at KPMG, about the financial and economic realities of building social and community housing in NZ
A photo of the front of Smash Palace, a bar on High St in Christchurch NZ. Arrows indicate where the entrance is, and point to the room at the back of the beer garden where we'll be meeting. The superimposed text reads "GŌ social hui TONIGHT at SMASH PALACE"
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
Did you know it takes about 569 days to build a house in NZ? 😲 The government has announced a 20% reduction in the time it takes to process survey and title applications. Given how slow the process of building is, any improvement is very welcome. www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-...
A photo of a building site with a lot of scaffolding and a Toyota Hilux parked in front. Superimposed text reads "569 days to build a house in NZ!"
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Check out this awesome old picture of High St and Colombo St. Even back in 1910, Christchurch was the ideal place to get on a bike thanks to our flat topology. Cycling is taking off at the moment, thanks to all the cycleways we've been rolling out. But the mahi isn't done yet!
A black and white photo of the corner of Colombo Street and High Street around 1910. The streets are wide, with multiple sets of tram tracks running along them. There is no a single car in sight. Horses and carriages are waiting outside a building. Tram wires crisscross overheard. From the position of the photographer in a second story window, a large number of pedestrians and cyclists can be seen making their way through the intersection.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Come along to Greater Ōtautahi’s first Social Hui of 2025 6:00pm next Thursday, January 9 at Smash Palace! 🎉 We’ll have special guest Joey Shannon (@foxcar_joey), a housing and infrastructure consultant, to speak about the realities of increasing social housing supply in NZ.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
Antigua St cycleway is included in draft Annual Plan and is intended to be built by the opening of Parakiore! This is great news after this project has been delayed and delayed for various reasons since it was approved by council back in May 2022, and construction was expected to start in Sep 2022!
Antigua Street (Moorhouse Avenue - Tuam Street) cycleway plan
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
We were in the media at least 24 occasions this year - not bad! We achieved our goal of getting a pro-housing view in the local media, to counteract the anti-housing NIMBY residents’ associations. greaterotautahi.nz/media-covera...
greaterotautahi.nz
In the media
23/12/2024 - The Press - "Plan to narrow Deans Ave for pedestrian island: waste of money or not enough action?" "Residents advocacy group Greater Ōtautahi shared its Deans Ave submission online, whic...
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The Press @thepress.co.nz · 20/12/2024
When Cody Cooper sees a cracked footpath, fallen tree or broken sign, he calls it in. Now the Christchurch City Council has grown so frustrated with the volume of his requests that a senior staff member suggested “we should ban him for life”. www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3605...
Cody Cooper says he is trying to make the city better. He stands with an example of his work - the curb, while not perfect, was repaired after a man fell through it getting off a bus and Cooper reported it.
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David Palmer @cloventt.net · 21/12/2024
Now that Main Nth Rd has been handed back to the Christchurch City Council I’m keen to see it redesigned to turn over more road space to pedestrians, and in particular add more pedestrian crossings. Like this bit near my house has almost 400 metres between crossing points.
A map of Redwood in north Christchurch, New Zealand. A poorly drawn red line shows that the distance between the crossing outside redwood library to the next crossing at Prestons Road. The gap between these is almost 400 metres.
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Simon Kingham @drsimonk.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Getting people out of their cars is possible with the right plans and policies theconversation.com/getting-peop...
theconversation.com
Getting people out of their cars is possible with the right plans and policies – case study
Encouraging walking, cycling and public transport use requires a cohesive, collaborative approach by all involved. The latest University of Canterbury travel survey shows how effective it can be.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Despite the rain, here's a wee update on the City to Sea Pathway and Lichfield Street! The City to Sea Pathway is a fantastic ride. It's very smooth, well connected to side streets and it will be a great addition to the city. 1/4
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
We’re through these doors and to the right! If you can’t find us, flick us a message.
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Reminder for tonight, see you at Little High from 6pm
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Greater Ōtautahi @greater-otautahi.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
One news reporter: house prices will be flat in 2025 but in 2026 they will go up by at least 5%. Presenter: "fingers crossed"
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