FREE, registration essential

Cities across the globe are becoming hotspots as climate change results in heatwaves. Why does this matter to Ōtautahi? What are the risks? What can we do to mitigate urban heat and ensure a liveable city for all?

As urban areas produce, absorb and retain more heat than rural areas, this Christchurch Conversation explores the potential of increased canopy cover as a means to mitigating urban heat, the spread of urban trees and ngahere across private and public lands, and how our urban fabric might best support this living network.

By working together and creating more tree cover, we can cool things down with increased shade and improved water absorption, while reducing emissions, increasing wellbeing and enhancing te taiao in the process.

Join us for this Christchurch Conversation as we canvass the barriers to planting, retaining and maintaining trees; the potential benefits; how we design for more trees and green spaces while balancing increased density; the role of households, communities, businesses and local government; and the things that we can do, in our backyards and elsewhere, to support canopy cover and a cooler, more sustainable and liveable city.

Our invited speakers explore the different facets of urban heat and increased canopy cover and give us their takes on what deserves attention and care. Hear from:

Toby Chapman, Urban Forest Manager at Christchurch City Council
Bridget Robilliard, Senior Landscape Architect and Kaiārahi, Kamo Marsh
Dr Rebecca Peer, Associate Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Canterbury
Poet Tarn Wright
Panel discussion chair: Lianne Dalziel CNZM (former Mayor of Christchurch and MP).

6-7.30pm, Tuesday 18 August
Doors open 5.30pm
TSB Space, Level 1 of Tūranga.
60 Cathedral Sq

This is a free public event. You can join us in person or online.

The Christchurch Conversations 2026 programme is supported by the Christchurch City Council through the Sustainability Fund and with the support of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO.

Image supplied by Christchurch City Council

Getting here

Find this building on Google maps.

Visit the Metro website to plan your journey

Check out the mobility parking map.

Getting inside

There are accessible entrances from Gloucester Street and Cathedral Square

There is a ramp to access the Gloucester Street entrance Building accessibility

The building is step-free

There are accessible, gender-neutral bathrooms available on-site

There are places to sit and rest inside the building

Please contact us if you have any questions about accessibility for this event at hello@teputahi.org.nz.

Contact the host of Christchurch Conversations: Urban Heat

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