< Back The Wonderful New Court Theatre 3 May 2025 The Court Theatre is a fabulous addition to the City Center. Enjoyed a fabulous evening at the Gala celebration for the opening of the new Court Theatre last night. Congratulations to all who worked so hard to deliver The Court Theatre’s “forever home” in the heart of our city. The first performance of The End of the Golden Weather was outstanding! Previous Next

< Back Super Round will be Awesome! 27 Aug 2025 The City is buzzing, and for good reason. Te Kaha—One New Zealand Stadium is about to make its spectacular debut, and what better way to mark the moment than with Super Round in April 2026! Ten Super Rugby Pacific teams will converge on Ōtautahi for three epic days of sport, music, and celebration. I can't wait! Congratulations to everyone for the hard work and vision to pull this weekend together. https://crusaders.co.nz/latest/news/super-round-is-coming-to-christchurch-in-2026/ Previous Next

< Back Cycleway to be paused for more community consultation Victoria Henstock 9 Mar 2023 Thanks to my motion in Council last week you can now have a say on pausing construction for the Wheels to Wings Harewood Rd cycleway. I have been receiving a lot of feedback from concerned Papanui residents after an article in last week’s Star newspaper on my apparent U-turn on the Papanui cycleway. Rest assured there has been no U-turn by me. A recentarticle and headline in the Star was inaccurate. There was no vote on the cycleway at the meeting held on 22 February. However, last Tuesday I obtained an 11–6 majority vote in Council for an amendment to the annual plan consultation document. The amendment to pause construction on the Harewood Rd cycleway for 12 months will allow us to engage with the local Papanui and Harewood communities to work through some of the issues with the current plan. The 11–6 majority shows that most Councillors think further work is required with the local community on this cycleway. The pause sends a clear message that the Council, and staff, are listening, and we are working hard to get a better result for the Papanui and Harewood communities.Staff told us last week construction funding from Waka Kotahi (51% of the total budget) was not yet secure. I am mindful that there is significant pressure on Government funding given the recent cyclone events in the North Island and it is possible funding may in future be deferred for higher priority projects. There is no guaranteed central government funding for this project. Consultation on the 23/24 draft Annual Plan opens this Friday 10 March. I encourage the public, and specifically the people of Papanui and Harewood, to engage with the Annual Plan consultation process. This is your chance to have your say. If you think we have our priorities right, tell us, if you think we are overspending on certain things, like cycleways – please tell us. Here is a link to the Council Annual Plan submission process: https://www.ccc.govt.nz/the-council/haveyoursay/show/582 Previous Next

< Back Submit to Annual Plan NOW 14 Mar 2023 Our Draft Annual Plan is open for feedback. Please tell us if we have it right. Have your say on things that matter to you. Mayor Phil Mauger is encouraging Christchurch residents to have their say on a budget that aims to keep rates increases down while continuing to invest in the city’s future and deliver the basics. Christchurch City Council’s Draft Annual Plan 2023/24 has opened for public feedback. It proposes what the Council will spend on projects and day-to-day services over the next financial year and how it will pay for them – and foremost among the proposals are some changes to how the Council charges its rates. “Keeping the proposed rates increase below inflation, and well below the potential 14.6% increase we were faced with late last year, has taken a lot of clever thinking by councillors and staff, and I’m pleased with what we’re proposing this year,” Mayor Mauger says. The Draft Annual Plan proposes an average overall rates increase of 5.68%, and an average increase for households of 5.79%. “Given the choppy economic waters that Christchurch, New Zealand and the world is going through at the moment, our focus this year has been on keeping costs as low as possible for households,” Mayor Mauger says.“We want to give everyone the opportunity to tell us if we’ve got it right before we make any big decisions. We’ll be out there talking with individuals, businesses and community groups, and councillors will take in every bit of feedback before we commit to anything.” The easiest way to make a submission is via ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay The main areas the Council is seeking feedback on include: A recommended change to the Excess Water Supply Targeted Rate that would see the average daily allowance increase from 700 to 900 litres for residential properties. This accounts for 0.10% of the rates increase but would only take effect from 1 July 2023. With residential property increasing in value in the recent triennial revaluation, the Council is asking whether it should lower the Uniform General Annual Charge (UAGC) from its current rate of $145 to $50, to help reduce the impact of rates increases for some lower income households. At the moment, the general rate is split between a fixed component – the UAGC – with the remainder based on capital value. If the Council lowers the UAGC, this $17 million shortfall would be spread across all ratepayers based on capital value. With the value of business properties not increasing at the same rates as residential properties, the Council is proposing a change to the differential on business properties designed to maintain the contribution that business properties make to general rates. Operational spend (spending on everyday services) of $585.2 million. That is $48.4 million more than what was in the Long Term Plan 2021–31 (LTP), mainly due to increasing costs outside our control like inflation, insurance and electricity price increases. To help compensate for this, the Council is bringing in a range of one-off savings, including leaving some staff vacancies unfilled for 2023/24 and revisiting some of the cost-saving measures first considered when developing the LTP. Capital spend (spending on the construction of facilities and infrastructure) of $615.8 million. This is $136 million less than what was in the LTP. The Council is keeping its programme of capital works focused on what’s actually achievable in the current environment. There’s no need to charge the ratepayer this year for projects that aren’t realistically able to be delivered until future years. Learn more about the Draft Annual Plan 2023/24 . Consultation closes at midnight on Monday 10 April, and councillors will meet to consider the feedback and approve the final budget in June. Previous Next

< Back My Official Candidate Information..... 31 Aug 2025 Victoria HENSTOCK Your Local Independent Community Voice My principal place of residence is in the Papanui Ward area. As your current independent councillor, I’m not tied to any political party. I’ve worked hard to represent Papanui, putting people before politics, focusing on practical results that are achievable and affordable. I’ve hosted nearly 100 resident drop-in sessions, listening and taking action on local issues. I’ve delivered on my promise to defer the Harewood Rd cycleway, and pushed back on over-engineered intersections and unnecessary speed bumps. I back common-sense decisions that serve our community and challenge unjustified rates increases. My priorities are simple - spend wisely, fix what’s broken, and protect what makes Christchurch a great place to live. A lawyer for 20+ years, with 30+ years governance experience and past executive leadership roles in central/local government and Ngāi Tahu. Christchurch is moving in the right direction with renewed energy and ambition. I’m committed to working hard for a resilient, liveable, and forward-looking city. It’s a privilege to serve you. Previous Next

< Back Couplands Bakery Marathon 21 Sept 2025 A different kind of campaigning ! The legendary Couplands Marathon passed through Papanui — 43km, 9 bakeries, and compulsory munchies at every stop! Only in Christchurch! 🥧🏃♂️🥧🏃♂️🥧🏃♂️ Previous Next

< Back Come in and see me! 20 May 2025 Drop-in session 2-4pm Thursdays at Papanui or Redwood Library Previous Next

< Back Another Great Day Planting at Papanui Bush. 15 Jun 2025 Perfect conditions for planting on 17 June at Papanui Bush, with community legend Denis McMurtrie and the dedicated team from the Rotary Club of Papanui and the Christchurch City Council community parks staff. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who turned out in force — your support and energy are what make projects like this possible. A great day for community, conservation, and connection. Some background by Ali Jones: Where settlers once felled mighty tōtara, mātai, kahikatea and kanuka to build a growing city, residents are now planting the same trees to restore a unique piece of Canterbury’s natural heritage. Papanui Bush, fifteen minutes from the centre of Christchurch, was completely cleared of trees in the mid-1800s, as the city grew and the settlers were hungry for timber to build. Only one of the original significant areas of native bush remains in the city – Riccarton Bush, but one local man has remained focused on changing that for the better. Denis McMurtrie has spearheaded the revival of Papanui Bush for many years and says thanks to the passion of a number of people and organisations, the transformation of the once cleared space in just seven years, is remarkable. “So many people have worked incredibly hard to achieve what we have,” he says. “Of course the area that Papanui Bush originally covered was huge, and we have been focusing on a smaller space called Bridgestone Reserve, just off Langdons Road in Papanui.” Since 2018, hundreds of native trees have been planted to recreate the wetland and forest ecosystem that once defined the area. Mr McMurtrie says volunteers of all ages gather regularly to assist with planting, weeding, and caring for the young forest. They come from community groups, local schools, Rotary Papanui, and the Christchurch City Council. “The work is as much about healing the land as it is about educating future generations on the value of native biodiversity,” he says. “The continued involvement of volunteers is not just about conservation but also about restoring identity, memory, and belonging.” A major milestone in the project was the recent completion of the Papanui Bush Loop Track, a one kilometre, wheelchair-accessible path that winds through the growing forest, designed for walkers, families, and those with limited mobility. “It’s a lovely, easy walk where you can enjoy the beautiful native plants, see young trees thriving, and enjoy the trickle of the stream running through the reserve,” adds Denis. As Christchurch continues to recover from past environmental and seismic disruptions, Denis says the story of Papanui Bush offers a model for community-led restoration. “It proves that even small urban spaces can reclaim their ecological and cultural value when people come together with purpose, enabling locals and visitors alike to reconnect with a landscape that had been erased for generations.” Previous Next

< Back New Track For Papanui TocH 4 Mar 2025 What a great asset for Papanui! Congratulations to the Papanui Toc H Athletic Club for opening their new track at Papanui High School. It was a tremendous team effort - raising funds and managing the project. The track was officially opened this week by Canterbury sprinting legend, 88 yr old Buzz Jones . Special thanks to club President Vanessa Buchan and Tim Macioce Previous Next

< Back We Love Our Trees 8 May 2025 Park upgrades are happening at Murchison Park and Papanui Domain. We are planning additional tree plantings in Murchison Park and Papanui Domain. You can help shape the tree planting plan. There’s lots of information available in the link below about different species and shade modelling. Consultation is open until 26 May. Tell us what you think: https://letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/treeplantingplans?fbclid=IwY2xjawKY36tleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFrZjVMclNJY3Z1NjduY2V4AR5sAslXJCnz52SM7oDfDdpWknn3N9TdPS2iUY7GgdS6xAfNNj7kA4a3dpRSRg_aem_0JcQd3T5n5qsOvSxS2_owg Previous Next

A Professional and Experienced leader I am active in the local community having chaired the PTA and Board of Trustees at Waimairi School. Currently I am on the Board of St Francis of Assisi School, and Chair of a newly established Charitable Trust providing information and support to pregnant women in need. Previous roles include being a trustee of the YMCA and working extensively with Women’s Refuge, and Community Law Centres. I was a practicing lawyer for 20+ years, before embarking on a career in executive management, including: Executive Director of the post-earthquake Independent Hearings Panel for Otautahi, to deliver the City's long-term District Plan, Executive Director of the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Trust working with the Crown and the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch to reinstate the iconic Christ Church Cathedral. Most recently I was General Manager, Strategy and Influence for Ngai Tahu. I am currently a consultant working on executive management and governance issues. “If you want to create effective and sustainable change for our community over time, then you must work with your local community, you must listen to what they say, and you must not force change against them because they will only get resentful.” Victoria Henstock The Press Thanks for visiting my website, I am standing as an independent for Council in the Papanui ward this election. Our community needs a strong local voice at the council table, one that isn’t tied to a political party. I am ambitious for a brighter future for Papanui and Christchurch. Since announcing my candidacy, I have had hundreds of conversations with people across our ward. The recent Council satisfaction survey showed that public confidence in this Council has plummeted to its lowest level ever. It’s time to introduce new faces and strong local voices to the Council table. Fresh energy and fresh ideas are needed to drive our City into the future! It is clear that people are frustrated by the performance of our current Council. Public trust and confidence has plummeted to its lowest level ever with many residents, businesses and community groups saying the Council is completely out of touch with their needs. A good example is the Papanui - Harewood cycleway. Many local residents and businesses are opposed to the current design, and believe it has been forced upon them. If elected, I will seek to review this decision and work towards finding a more appropriate option acceptable to the local community. Our Council must listen more and engage with the community better to ensure spending priorities meet community needs. It’s time to focus on getting the basics right first, fix what is broken and fund infrastructure to address the needs of everyone. If we want our communities to thrive in the future we need sensible solutions to today’s challenges, like climate change adaptation, and water management. Planning for the future is important but it must not take priority over the needs of today. The Draft Christchurch Transport Plan proposes to introduce congestion charging and road tolls, block off roads, remove free carparking and impose levies on private car parks. This is another example of the Council being out of touch. I will not support these disruptive anti-car proposals. With a strong history of community service, and a professional background in law, governance and executive leadership working with central and local government and Iwi, I am well placed to help navigate the challenges ahead. I am a strong advocate, not afraid to have tough conversations and will fight for the right of our people to have a say in their own future. I am a pragmatic and strategic thinker. I will bring a mix of vision, practical and inclusive decision-making, professionalism, and experience to the table. It would be a privilege to serve the people of Papanui and the City of Christchurch as your independent local Councillor. Victoria Henstock Proudly Papanui A Strong Local Voice Family focused and community minded Practical not Political

< Back Saturday stunner! Enjoyed a fabulous day out on Saturday at the Richmond Gala at Richmond Community Garden, Avebury House. 19 Mar 2023 Great to support this superb community event with fellow Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board Members Emma Norrish - Waipapa Papanui Innes Central Community Board, Dr. Sunita Gautam Community Board Member-Central Ward , Emma Twaddell - Papanui/Innes/Central Community Board Member , John Miller, and Councillor Jake McLellan. Wonderful to see the Richmond Community Garden in full festive flair. Special mention to Michael Reynolds and Liesbeth van Bruchem-Hoogland from Toha Kai Otautahi for the fabulous organic produce, Flossie Blundell and her dad Tim for the lovely garden apples, Charles Labye and Leonard Veuzin for the savoury waffles and the outstanding entertainment from the colourful Soul Star Tribe - Tribal Belly Dance Collective and Polonus - Polish Folk Dance Group Christchurch NZ. Previous Next