The Riccarton precinct — anchored by Westfield Riccarton and the Riccarton Road strip — continues to be one of the busiest retail areas in the South Island, with weekend traffic showing a steady uplift through 2025.

Westfield's centre management said footfall over the most recent school holidays was up modestly on the same period last year, helped by school holiday programming and an expanded food court refurbishment that wrapped up earlier in the year.

Independent retailers along Riccarton Road and Rotherham Street described a more mixed picture, with hospitality and grocery performing well but specialty retail facing tighter discretionary spending. Several owners said parking and traffic congestion remain the most frequent customer complaints.

The Council's ongoing Riccarton Road bus priority project continues to be a topic of debate. Submissions on the next stage close later this month and can be made through the Have Your Say portal.