Food trucks get the green light at Christchurch Arts Centre

Food trucks remain at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre after resource consent was approved by the Christchurch City Council today.

The decision, which has been endorsed by an Independent Commissioner, is welcomed by Director of The Arts Centre, Philip Aldridge.

“We’re grateful to the Council for its decision to have 20 food trucks on site, and we’re looking forward to welcoming new food operators. The food trucks are a highlight for the million people who visit the Centre each year, offering a rich array of food and providing a great business opportunity for many hospitality entrepreneurs.”

As noted in the consent, food trucks enhance economic activity, serve visitors and locals alike, contribute to a vibrant and dynamic streetscape and celebrate a longstanding tradition of inner-city Christchurch life that has been loved for generations.

The food trucks are a significant part of the history of the site and an important revenue stream for the Centre, Aldridge says.

“We were surprised at the initial concerns raised given The Arts Centre has a long history of leasing space to food trucks. We have reduced the number of food trucks and limited opening hours – we hope that will be seen as a good compromise.”

"The Arts Centre is a not-for-profit organisation and one of Christchurch's most treasured cultural assets. The food trucks generate essential revenue that helps us preserve New Zealand's largest collection of heritage buildings and sustain our role as a thriving centre for the arts."

The Arts Centre is fully tenanted at market rents and has recently opened an Arts Centre Shop (staffed by volunteers), reduced expenses (including the temporary deferral of repairs and maintenance) and saved money by bringing several services in-house.