The stadium opening looms and District Plan rule changes mean the central city will finally be able to make some noise – the stage is set for Christchurch’s nightlife to go next-level. All we need now is a Night Mayor. 

The concept emerged in Amsterdam about 20 years ago. It recognises that a city by night differs from the same city by day, and that the needs of the people who live, work and play in a city after dark also differ from those who do so by day. 

Mirik Milan – young, good-looking and a former club promoter – was Amsterdam’s first formal Night Mayor, elected in 2014 by festival-goers, club and bar owners and the public. 

Mirik championed the city’s night economy whenever complaints from those off early to bed caught the ear of officials eager to respond with threats of curfews and bans. “How can you make good laws if you’re in City Hall with no real clue of what’s happening out there in the nighttime?” he says of the role. “The only way is for the night economy, City Hall and residents to figure out, together, how to make it work.”

Night Mayor, Night Czar, Office of Nightlife – in different guises the idea of nocturnal governance has since become real in more than 50 cities around the world. The list includes Paris, London, Manchester, Berlin, Lisbon, Barcelona, Tokyo, Sydney and over a dozen US cities, including New York. 

Clearly then, Christchurch needs one too. An honorary one at least while we wait for the real thing. Someone who can represent on behalf of all those still in bed when council committees and other daytime decision-makers do their consulting. Someone who knows what the city looks like by night. 

To get the ball rolling, Cityscape has put together a list of contenders for Christchurch’s inaugural Night Mayor. Anyone we’ve missed? Let us know –  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Richard Sinke

As the force behind the original Dux de Lux, the O.G. of Christchurch hospo would already have a strong claim to the position of inaugural Night Mayor. Add in Richard’s successful rebuilding of his business after the earthquakes and the halo effect of that success on the central city and the case gets stronger. The clincher is his persistence in advocating for the interests of the city’s night people, those who want to host them and those who want to make some noise for them. Clearly a person of bold vision backed by action – remember, he opened a vegetarian restaurant in Christchurch in the 1970s.

Ava Nakagawa

If depth in the industry is what a Night Mayor needs, it’s hard to look past Ava Nakagawa, aka the Beer Baroness. Her parents are the force behind Pomeroy’s Old Brewery Inn, a rare survivor of the quakes, and she started working there in her teens before taking over its management at age 25. So she knows life behind the bar. Despite that, she still loves hospo and is a passionate advocate for its role in her city, which Ava knows like an upside-down bar mat. Could benefit from the rainbow vote after her Queer Bear Hazy IPA went down a treat at Christchurch Pride.

Nick Inkster

The O.G.B Bar, Frederick Woodwards Barber Shop, Parlour Cocktail Bar, Austin Club, Paddy McNaughton’s Irish Pub, Lyttelton’s Civil & Naval, The Church Pub – and the name linking them all is Nick Inkster, a Canterbury carpenter who came home after the quakes and helped rebuild the city’s hospo scene. Nick has demonstrated a Midas Touch when it comes to repurposing old spaces as hot new bars and venues, showing a respect for heritage that helps balance any notion of him being an upstart. Nick must be a contender for The Church Pub alone, turning a derelict earthquake casualty into a booming live music venue to rival the much-missed Civic.

Dave Henderson

His theme song is Chumbawumba’s ‘Tubthumping’ (I get knocked down but I get up again) and he’s picked himself up more times than most. So you know he’s not a quitter. Dave Henderson’s claim to the position of Night Mayor would get strong support from all those punters who ate, drank and partied in Sol Square at Fat Eddie’s, Yellow Cross, Fish & Chip, La Petite Croix and Toast. The Lichfield Street site was the place to be from its opening in 2005 till the earthquakes wrecked it. And now, finally unconstrained by his 2011 bankruptcy, Hendo has plans to relaunch Sol Square and restart the party.

Mitch Ryder

Rather than the Night Mayor being a hospo insider, maybe they need the big-picture view that you only get from the outside? If that’s your priority, Mitch Ryder fits the bill. He’s more promoter than publican, although his nightclub Hide gives him skin in that game as well. His day job is partner with Sam Smith in Cream Events, which they formed in 2017 to diversify Christchurch’s music scene. The Lakes Festival, back on December 28 for its fifth outing at Hagley Park – that's them. From club nights to large festivals and outdoor events, Mitch has done it all and seen what works. His love of dance music makes him the funkiest in our field of contenders.