No free trams in central Christchurch due to 'operational constraints'
From reporter Tina Law:
Free tram rides will not be on offer this Easter and school holidays, in a disappointing blow to struggling central city businesses.
The Christchurch City Council was considering paying for free trams as a way to attract people back into Christchurch’s struggling central city.
Council head of facilities, property and planning Bruce Rendall said the free tram rides would not go ahead over the Easter break because of “operational constraints”. The council is in talks with tram operator Christchurch Attractions about ways to bring people back to the city centre.
Christchurch Central City Business Association chairwoman Annabel Turley said she was angry when she heard the proposal was not going ahead.
“Now is the time to support the businesses in the community.”
Turley said moving to the orange setting would give people confidence about coming back into the city, but free trams would have been a really great way to showcase the city.
She urged the council not to put money into free car parking as that would only benefit those already coming into the city for work.
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Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”
We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?
Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.
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41.9% Yes
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31.7% Maybe?
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26.4% No
2025 has been massive. The Luxon-led Government's attacks on workers, on Te Tiriti, on pay equity, on educators, on health workers, and on the public service, have been relentless.
But despite everything thrown at working people, we've also seen some massive wins. We've fought back together with strike action. We've unified with days of action. We have focused on what matters. Make no mistake, 2026 will be wild, and we are ready for it! Source - New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
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