Public consultation is now open on the future of the BP Meats site at 67 and 67A Rue Lavaud, Akaroa. Residents, businesses, community groups and everyone with an interest in Akaroa are encouraged to take part and share their views before Sunday 18 October 2026.

What should the future of one of Akaroa’s centrally located sites look like? Could it provide space for community activities, support local businesses, create opportunities for public open space, or offer a flexible combination of uses that responds to the town’s changing needs?

These are some of the questions at the heart of Christchurch City Council’s latest consultation on the future of the BP Meats site. The Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board will use community feedback to help determine the preferred future use of the land.

Why does this site matter?

The BP Meats site covers approximately 2,968 square metres in the northern commercial area of Akaroa’s town centre. Its central location, street frontage and relatively flat layout provide a range of potential opportunities for future use.

The site has also been the subject of community discussion since late 2024. Earlier engagement raised a variety of ideas, including retaining the existing butchery, providing space for community activities, supporting local commercial services, considering residential opportunities and creating more open space.

The discussions have highlighted an important question for Akaroa: how can this public asset best serve the needs of the community today while remaining adaptable to future challenges?

The current consultation is an opportunity to consider the options in more detail and help inform the Community Board’s decision.

Five options for the future

Christchurch City Council is seeking feedback on five conceptual options developed following earlier community engagement, technical advice and an updated economic assessment.

The options are intended to illustrate possible approaches to the site. They are not approved development proposals, construction plans or confirmed funding commitments.

All five options include refurbishing the existing butchery building, potentially removing part of the annex, providing a small permanent stormwater device in the north-eastern corner, and improving the appearance and ongoing maintenance of vacant areas.

The Little Sweet Shop building at the front of the site is to be retained, although its location could change by mutual agreement.

The options explore different possibilities for the site’s future, including approaches involving commercial activity, community use and the management of the land as a public asset. Residents are encouraged to read the detailed descriptions and consider the advantages, limitations and trade-offs associated with each option before submitting their feedback.

What should the community consider?

There is no single answer to what makes a site valuable to a community. Its importance may lie in the services it provides, the opportunities it creates, the spaces it offers for people to meet, or its ability to respond to future needs.

As you consider the five options, some useful questions include:

• Community needs: Which uses would provide the greatest benefit to Akaroa residents and the wider Peninsula?
• Local businesses: How could the site support local employment, services and economic activity throughout the year?
• Public ownership: What role should the site play as a publicly owned asset?
• Open space and amenity: Could landscaping, seating, public space or connections to the nearby Wai-iti Balguerie Stream improve the site?
• Climate resilience: How should future use take account of flooding, coastal hazards and other long-term environmental risks?
• Flexibility and cost: Would a staged approach allow the site to respond to changing needs while avoiding premature commitments?

These questions are not intended to favour any particular option. Rather, they provide a starting point for considering how each proposal might affect Akaroa over the short and long term.

Your feedback can help inform the decision

Community consultation is most useful when it captures a broad range of perspectives. Residents may have different priorities from business owners, community organisations, property owners and people who visit Akaroa regularly. Those differences are part of the decision-making process.

You do not need to be an expert in planning or development to participate. If you live in Akaroa or elsewhere on Banks Peninsula, operate a local business, belong to a community organisation or care about the future of the town, your perspective can contribute to the discussion.

When providing feedback, consider explaining not only which option you prefer, but also why you support it, what outcomes matter most to you, and what changes or safeguards you would like decision-makers to consider.

Constructive feedback can help the Community Board understand the benefits and concerns associated with each approach.

What happens next?

Consultation closes on Sunday 18 October 2026. Following the close of consultation, Council staff will prepare a report for the Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board.

The Board is scheduled to consider the preferred land use at its meeting on 7 December 2026. Further reporting on implementation options and costs is expected in 2027.

Importantly, no funding has been set aside to implement a preferred option. If public funding is required, it will need to be considered through the development of Christchurch City Council’s 2027–2037 Long Term Plan.

This means the current consultation is about helping determine the preferred future use of the site. Decisions about funding and implementation will follow through subsequent processes.

How to have your say

The easiest way to participate is through Christchurch City Council’s online consultation page. You can read about the five options, review the supporting information and submit your feedback.

Consultation closes Sunday 18 October 2026.

READ THE OPTIONS AND SUBMIT YOUR FEEDBACK

The future of the BP Meats site is an opportunity to think carefully about what Akaroa needs and how this centrally located public asset could contribute to the town over time.

Whether your priority is community use, local economic activity, public space, climate resilience or keeping future options open, take the time to review the proposals and make your views known.

Akaroa’s future is shaped by the people who care about it. Make sure your voice is part of the conversation.

Source: Christchurch City Council, Future use of BP Meats site, 67 and 67A Rue Lavaud.

You can also submit your feedback by email or phone. If you would prefer to share your views directly, please contact Tessa Zant, Engagement Manager, using the details below:

• Contact: Tessa Zant, Engagement Manager
• Phone: 03 941 8935
• Email: letstalk@ccc.govt.nz

When emailing, please include “BP Meats consultation” in the subject line to help ensure your feedback is directed to the appropriate team.

Why It Matters

The future of the BP Meats site matters because decisions about centrally located public land can shape a town’s character, economic vitality and community life for generations. In a small community such as Akaroa, where space is limited and local needs can compete, making thoughtful decisions about how land is used is particularly important.

The site presents an opportunity to consider how public assets can support local businesses, provide space for community activities, improve the town’s amenity and respond to future environmental challenges. Equally, decisions need to consider affordability, long-term maintenance and the needs of both current and future generations.

For Banks Peninsula residents, this consultation is more than a discussion about one property. It is an opportunity to influence how a valuable public asset is managed and what role it should play in the future of Akaroa.

Taking part now helps ensure that community perspectives, local knowledge and differing priorities are considered before a preferred option is selected. Whatever your views, contributing constructively to the consultation can help inform a decision that reflects the needs and aspirations of the wider community.