New Regent Street, Spanish Mission style heritage street in Christchurch, New Zealand.
New Regent Street is a Category 1 heritage-listed pedestrian street in central Christchurch, New Zealand, with shops and cafes lining both sides of a short, flat lane. The buildings on either side are built in the Spanish Mission style, featuring shaped gables, decorative medallions, tiled window hoods, and ornamental columns.
The street opened in 1932 on the site of the Colosseum, Christchurch's first cinema, which had stood there before. Architect Francis Willis designed the whole block as a single retail development with a consistent architectural style, which was unusual for the time.
New Regent Street is known for its Spanish Mission style from the 1930s, with shaped gables, colored tiles, and ironwork details visible on every facade. Today it works as a meeting point where cafes and small shops draw locals and visitors throughout the day.
The street is flat and easy to walk, making it accessible for everyone. Heritage trams run through the lane, so keep an eye on the tracks and stay in the marked walking areas.
At opening, the street was fitted with around 400 electric lamps, which was very unusual for a shopping street at the time. People came specifically to see the night lighting display, making it a destination in itself long before any shop had opened its doors.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
