New Regent Street's makeover

David Streeten

New Regent Street.

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When New Regent St was opened in 1932, it was described as "the most beautiful street in New Zealand" by then Christchurch mayor Daniel Sullivan. Nearly 80 years later, the iconic Christchurch street still enjoys the accolade, echoed by most of the street's tenants and their shoppers.

New Regent St has a reputation for being the most architecturally unique street in the country. With its distinctive pastel-hued Spanish Mission-style buildings and the tramline running through the middle, it is certainly one of the city's most photographed streets.

Nestled in the historic street are close to 40 businesses, ranging from high-end jewellers and beauty therapists to shoe dyers and travel agents.

"It's the street with everything and a very special part of Christchurch," says Betty Hazeldine who, with her husband Brian, owns Pastel Shoe Dyers at 28 New Regent St. Open since 1934, Pastels is one of the longest surviving businesses on the street.

"We have loved being here and have met so many people," Betty says. "One day I saw Neil Diamond go next door to what was then the Cuban Cigar shop. You just never know who you will see on this street."

When the Hazeldines bought Pastels in 1991, New Regent St was still two-way and customers could pull up and park outside. The street became a pedestrian-only zone in 1994 and the tram tracks were added the following year.

"Closing the street to traffic brought the people in and then, when the tram arrived, it brought the tourists in," Betty says.

"We bought the building here as a retirement project and also in the hope of keeping Pastels on this street forever. We have watched a lot of comings and goings on this street over the years and, despite what some people might think, the street is thriving, just like it was back in the '30s."

Before New Regent St was developed, a large building known as the Colosseum occupied the site. The popular community venue for public meetings and political gatherings was also used as a skating rink and circus ring before being taken over by a taxi company.

The Colosseum was demolished in 1931 and architect Harry Francis Willis designed a double row of shops on 40 separate titles to fill the void. In the midst of the Depression, it was considered an ambitious venture and one of the few large-scale building projects undertaken in the South Island at the time. The Spanish Mission architectural style was not widely used in Christchurch, either, let alone for an entire street.

However, it's not only New Regent St's architecture that makes it special. Behind the picturesque facades lies an unusual retail community.

*Read more in the July issue of Avenues*