Christchurch’s Empty Apartments Crisis | Christchurch News

Christchurch News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 10, 2026 · 1m

Christchurch’s rebuilt city center is eerily quiet, with hundreds of new apartments sitting empty despite promises of a vibrant, livable community. Councillor Nathaniel Hertz Jardine blames the rise of Airbnb and short-term rentals, which lure investors seeking high profits over permanent residents. While a new stadium promises economic buzz, the city’s silence returns quickly after game days, revealing a fundamental mismatch: a city built for tourists, not families. Jardine calls for a bed register, bed tax, and stronger zoning powers to prioritize residents and revitalize neighborhoods —…