Mayor to attend public meeting tonight as stench continues to plague Christchurch

Chris Lynch
Chris Lynch
Feb 03, 2026 |
Bromley Waste Treatment Ponds, Christchurch
Bromley Waste Treatment Ponds, Christchurch

A public meeting will be held tonight to update residents on the ongoing odour issues affecting parts of the city.

The council said the session would outline current mitigation efforts, what residents could expect over the coming weeks, and provide an opportunity for people to ask questions directly of council staff.

The meeting will be held at the Bromley Community Centre, 45 Bromley Road, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm on Tuesday 3 February.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger is expected to attend the meeting.

Bromley Waste Treatment Ponds, Christchurch

Bromley Waste Treatment Ponds, Christchurch

In an interview with chrislynchmedia.com on Monday, Mauger apologised to residents for the ongoing stench and said council staff were doing all they could to resolve the issue.

He said new infrastructure for the wastewater treatment plant was still at least three years away, an admission likely to offer little reassurance to residents who continue to be affected by smells coming from the treatment ponds.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger

Mauger said the council had already spent an additional $1 million trying to address the odour problem and acknowledged there was no quick fix.

He said the stench could reappear again in the future while longer term solutions were worked through.

Council staff will be on hand at the meeting to answer questions and provide further information to residents impacted by the smell.

Chris Lynch
Chris Lynch

Chris Lynch is a journalist, videographer and content producer, broadcasting from his independent news and production company in Christchurch, New Zealand. If you have a news tip or are interested in video content, email [email protected]

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