Think Papanui

The 2026 General Election will be held on Saturday 7 November, 2026. Enrolment for the general election has now closed and voting is now underway.

On election day, voting places are open from 9am to 7pm. If you want to vote before election day, the opening hours might be different. Note that not all voting places are open every day. Some voting places are only open before election day, and some voting places are only open on election day.

There is a voting place operating at Northlands Shopping Centre, between the Main North Road car park and the old food court area.

For more information about voting place locations and hours see:
https://vote.nz/2026-general-election/voting-in-the-election/find-a-voting-place

The Whakaoho Papanui Community Day is coming up on Sunday 1 November 2026 from 1pm to 4pm in the Sissons Drive Carpark at Northlands Shopping Centre.

Organised by the Papanui Youth Development Trust (PYDT) and hosted at Northlands Shopping Centre, this annual community event brings Papanui together for an afternoon of free family fun. There’ll be games and prizes, bouncy castles, Crowntastic, Pedalmania, stone carving, a photo booth, spray tattoos and live performances, along with local food options.

Meaning “Wake Up” Papanui, Whakaoho is a chance to connect, have some fun and celebrate our local community.

For more information see the Facebook event or the Northlands website.

The Neighbourhood Trust’s annual Light Party is on this Saturday 31 October 2026 at St Albans Baptist Church, 64 McFaddens Road.

This is a free family event which includes: Motorbike Rides; Mini Jeep Rides; Digger Ride; Lego Building; Plant a Seedling; Face Paint; Scavenger Hunt; Best Dressed Teddy Competition; Arts & Crafts; Inflatables; Sensory Room; and Food.

See the Neighbourhood Trust website or the Facebook event for more information.

On 12 October 2026, the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board:

• heard reports back from two young people who had been supported by the Board’s Youth Development Fund, received feedback on this year’s Matariki in the Zone event, and received a presentation on the Chester Street East / Dawson Residential Heritage Area;
• approved renewal of Petrie Street between Averill Street and Warden Street;
• approved a dog exercise area at Fortune Playground;
• approved grants to Papanui Baptist Freedom Trust and Packe Street Park and Community Garden;
• approved 28 applications for Summer with your Neighbours funding;
• and received a report covering initiatives, activities, and issues within the Community Board area.

The Board will next meet on 9 November.

Click through for the full minutes:
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2026/10/PCBCC_20261012_MIN_11317_AT_WEB.htm

Monday 26 October 2026 is Labour Day.

Tūranga will be open from 10am to 5pm that day, but all other Council libraries will be closed.

There are no changes to bin collections on that day – if your bins are normally emptied on a Monday, please put them out by 6am as usual.

Have you noticed the work underway at Papanui Domain?

Canterbury Rugby League and Papanui Tigers Rugby League Club supported the removal of 29 trees from Papanui Domain that were causing damage to the playing surface. The playing surface is now being remediated, and once work is completed in April 2027, Papanui Domain will become the third sand-based rugby league ground in Canterbury.

See this post by Canterbury Rugby League for more information.

The Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board will meet on Monday 12 October 2026 at 4pm in the Papanui Boardroom. The agenda includes:

• public participation;
• renewal of Petrie Street between Averill Street and Warden Street;
• a permanent small dog exercise area at Fortune Playground;
• funding applications from Papanui Baptist Freedom Trust and Packe Street Park and Community Garden;
• 28 applications for Summer with your Neighbours funding;
• and a report covering initiatives, activities, and issues within the Community Board area.

The meeting is open for the public to attend and will be livestreamed on the Board’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Click through for the full agenda:
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2026/10/PCBCC_20261012_AGN_11317_AT_WEB.htm

On Saturday 10 October 2026 there’ll be a book & craft fair at St Paul’s Anglican Church Papanui, with hand-crafted items, crafting materials, books, and more. 10am-2pm in St Paul’s church hall, cash only.

On Monday 14 September 2026, the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board:

• requested further work on the design of Condell Avenue’s street renewal, including the opportunity for tree planting on both sides of the road (see previous post);
• approved parking restrictions for Windermere Road (pic); requested further advice on the layout of the proposed street renewal of Chancellor Street / Julius Terrace;
• approved a street renewal for Stapletons Road;
• approved road layout changes associated with a service station development on Prestons Road;
• approved a ground lease for Kidsfirst Redwood at Redwood Park;
• approved a ground lease for Playcentre Aotearoa at Dunedin Reserve;
• approved a ground lease for Christchurch Budokan Inc at St Albans Park;
• approved a funding application from the St Albans Residents Association;
• and received a report on issues and initiatives within the Community Board area.

The Board will next meet on 12 October. Click through to read the full minutes:
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2026/09/PCBCC_20260914_MIN_11316_AT_WEB.htm

At Monday’s meeting, the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board did not approve a staff recommendation to renew a section of Condell Avenue with trees on one side only.

The Board has instead asked staff to provide further advice on an alternative layout that includes trees on both sides of the road. Think Papanui understands that further consideration of the road layout and tree plantings is unlikely to impact the timing of the street renewal, as works cannot commence while Condell Avenue is being used as a detour due to works on Wairakei Road.