Punk’s not dead (it just needs a buffer zone): Councillors refuse to turn the volume down on CBD

Thursday, 14 May 2026

Christchurch’s artists and musicians were “at the forefront” of healing the central city after the quakes, elected members say, and their venues need to be protected.

City councillors overwhelmingly rejected a staff recommendation to scale back proposed changes to noise limits in the CBD, instead agreeing to progress a policy even more progressive than the original.

The proposal would keep much of the northern neighbourhoods free from “riff-raff or punk music” while creating buffer zones for existing venues, supporting a creative sector where people were “leaving in droves” for Auckland and Melbourne.

“At the moment, a coffee grinder or toothbrush is in breach of unworkable noise rules,” Darkroom owner Feather Shaw told elected members at a policy and planning committee meeting on Wednesday.

“Why celebrate a brand new stadium, about to host its first major concert, when we watch more of our industry peers at the grassroots level go out of business,” Shaw said.

“Where do the stadium superstars of tomorrow even get their start?”

Currently, venues like Darkroom, Space Academy and A Rolling Stone operate in areas limited to 45dB. In other city centres, like Auckland and Wellington, the limit is 60dB.

The council is proposing to bring much of the CBD south of Armagh St to at least 60dB, but raise the limit to 65dB in areas with established venues. On Wednesday, councillors decided against tightening up the 65dB areas - as staff recommended - instead further expanding the area around St Asaph St, The Arts Centre, and Manchester St.

A final decision is due at the end of the year, after a hearings process. By then, it would be four years since venue operators warned councillors about its outdated policy.

Shaw said that warning three years ago came before a residential development had broken ground just across the road and over the fence from another live music venue.

The block of townhouses - many understood to be Airbnbs - had become a source of noise complaints. Cr Andrei Moore said a complaint had shut one venue down as early as 10.17pm.

“We need to keep in mind that in 2011, when no one wanted to come anywhere near the city for a bit, places like Darkroom took a gamble and set up a venue,” he said.

“What right does anyone have to show up 15 years later and say, ‘hey, thanks for helping bring life to our city, but the fun’s over, pack up your drum kit, it’s gentrification o’clock’.”

He said the new proposal struck a good compromise, as it no longer sought to increase noise limits in the Victoria St area - which residents strongly opposed - and kept the north-east of central city “a nice quiet housing area … with no risk of any riff-raff or punk music from popping up next door”.

The proposal may still result in some venues needing to pay for better soundproofing, but it also meant new residential developments had to meet higher insulation and ventilation standards.

All but one councillor supported expanding the higher noise limits around St Asaph St, and most agreed with expanding it around The Arts Centre and east of Manchester St.

Cr Melanie Coker abstained from the vote, later telling The Press it was because she hoped to sit on the hearings panel (she may be the only councillor eligible for the panel, due to having a special qualification).

Cr Yani Johanson supported the changes because the creative sector had been at the forefront of helping Christchurch heal from the earthquakes and he said their impact was priceless.

Cr Kelly Barber said pubs and clubs were an important way for young people to connect.

“I actually met my wife at a club. We’ve been married 35 years,” he said.

“I think we should foster and encourage our youth and their passions, and make it easier to do these things.”