Proposed noise limit changes could make Christchurch’s city centre the loudest in NZ

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

The Isaac Theatre Royal has created a new live music venue on the stage.

A proposed noise limit increase discussed by the Christchurch City Council could make the city centre the loudest in New Zealand.

In a workshop on Tuesday, councillors discussed several options to increase the central city’s noise restrictions. The preferred option would see the innermost city centre increased from 60dB LAeq (a measure of average sound energy over time) to 65dB LAeq.

The preferred option for noise changes in Christchurch’s city centre.

Auckland and Wellington’s city centre noise limits are capped at 60dB LAeq.

Central city noise has been an ongoing issue, following years of live music venues warning that outdated council policies could drive them out of business.

In February, councillor Andrei Moore, who holds the arts and culture portfolio, said one venue received a noise control infringement as early as 10.16pm.

Noise complaints had also led to some bars moving gig times (such as Dux Central in 2022), or cutting live music altogether.

Save Our Venues spokesperson Taylor MacGregor previously told The Press the sound of live music was lumped in with noise and pollution, but it shouldn’t be.

Christchurch City Councillor Andrei Moore is in favour of noise increases in the city centre to help live music venues continue without noise complaints.

“It’s not the same as having a house party out of control, or people yelling in the streets - it’s a different sound and needs to be measured appropriately.”

Te Kaha Stadium has already been given special protections against noise complaints, which Moore previously said meant the stadium would be allowed to have concerts, while the bars beside it wouldn’t.

In the preferred option discussed, decibel levels would increase to 65 at Te Kaha stadium, and a small portion of the city centre. The surrounding central areas would be limited at 60. Other options included keeping the status quo, setting noise limits within the whole four avenues, and zone-based approach.

The proposed areas of increase already had sufficient insulation levels, the council said.

Hide Club on Saint Asaph St in Christchurch Central is part of a small pocket of places that could be left out of increased noise zones.

However, Moore said there was a pocket of other big music venues such as Hide, Engineers and Rolling Stone that were not included in the area to be increased.

He said some music venues would be naturally upset, and wanted to know the possibility of including an extra block in consultation.

The options were being weighed up against balancing the growth of a vibrant city, while also getting more people to live in the city centre.

There was also a balance needed between increasing noise levels and not having to increase insulation requirements.

It was a tug of war which councillor Tim Scandrett told colleagues that, in four decades, had never been closer to being solved.

“This is the best [presentation] I’ve seen,” he told council staff.

In February, concern was raised around the risk that houses consented before the plan was put in place may not be adequately sound-proofed.

But councillor Kelly Barber said he thought people would accept if they lived in the central city, there would be more of a “buzz”.

“I’d hazard a guess they (venues) were there first, to me that takes priority,” he said.

Mayor Phil Mauger said they were “never going to please everyone all the time”.

A consultation of the options was planned to take place in June, with a decision expected in September.