a new chapter for morrison.

Media Release

Thursday 9 October 2025

A new chapter is starting in Nelson city with plans for a rejuvenated MORRISON precinct taking shape. 

The Morrison Square site was purchased earlier this year, with new owners Justin Candish, Craig Dennis and Jason Everett of Morrison Square Development Co Ltd presenting their vision for the precinct for the first time at the Uniquely Nelson AGM on Thursday night. 

Director Justin Candish said extensive research and consideration went into the new MORRISON precinct design, with ‘people’ and ‘rejuvenation’ central to all design discussions. 

“We see this development as a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the rejuvenation of the city,” Candish said. “It would have been devastating for the city to see this prime city location as a gravel carpark for 10 years or so. Instead, our vision is to create a cornerstone city destination to help take Nelson city into the future. 

In summary, Candish said MORRISON is being designed to be a vibrant, people-focused precinct, with a curated blend of retail, hospitality, office spaces and boutique accommodation, and a community gathering space at its heart. 

The questions of why people come into a city, and what motivates them to stay awhile, were key questions the concept designs needed to provide solutions for the new MORRISON precinct,” Candish said. 

“We have worked with two Nelson-based architectural firms –  Irving Smith Architects and Arthouse Architects – and local landscape architecture firm Meadow to develop our vision of a lively, multi-use precinct anchored by a central square, with the square being the focal point that brings it all together,” Candish said. “By hosting food, music, and cultural gatherings in the piazza-type space, the heart of MORRISON will become a community stage and a place to gather. In effect we are giving the space back to the city.” 

“It was also important to us to respect the site’s heritage character, given that part of the complex includes the former Field, Newmans and Morrison heritage buildings. The colour palette is inspired by this heritage - local clay, bricks and trees – with the other buildings to be up-specced and significantly modernised.” 

During the research and design process, the design team assessed other successful examples of New Zealand and international multi-use precincts and engaged with key stakeholders, including Nelson City Council, local businesses and community groups. 

“We see MORRISON as a destination that complements other parts of the city. When MORRISON brings more people to the city, all areas of the CBD will benefit, and vice versa. We want to grow Nelson’s offering, attract new brands and businesses, and therefore new visitors, to create spill-over benefits for the wider city. MORRISON itself is also anticipated to have 200-300 people working there, so that too will be beneficial to the rest of the city. 

“It is designed to be a place for everyone, and we are really, really pleased with where we have landed with our plans.” 

Candish said there would not be apartments within the precinct but rather the team sees MORRISON as supporting other developments elsewhere on the city-fringe. 

“We did look at the apartment option, but our preference was to be a destination for visitors near and far, and to be a great place to work for locals, rather than having the majority of the site taken up with apartments.”  

Instead, Candish said that a boutique hotel concept is proposed for the eastern side of the precinct.  

“We have seen how boutique hotels have made a difference to cities, attracting a particular type of traveller. We are still at the feasibility stage, but our assessment so far is that it would be a great addition to the heart of the CBD. The concept is for it to be quite different to the other accommodation offerings in Nelson, and as we are not planning extensive hospitality and retail within the hotel, guests will be encouraged to shop and eat elsewhere,” he said.  

Candish added that the original Morrison Square development was built in 2008 and the buildings were designed and constructed to the seismic standards in place at that time and achieved 100% of the New Building Standard (NBS).  

“The buildings are not earthquake-prone - structurally they are fine - but some parts of the buildings do require remediation, primarily to cladding,” Candish said. “To deliver on our vision for the precinct the only buildings we are taking down are the former Columbus café building and the building on the eastern side. Otherwise, our focus is on adaptive reuse to utilise as much of the existing structures as possible, to reduce the amount that would otherwise have gone to landfill.”  

The development team has already begun working with anchor tenants and prospective partners, while addressing legacy building challenges and recladding requirements.  

Works are due to start before Christmas this year, with the entire development estimated to take two years. 

Key concepts within the development include: 

  • Morrison square – a community heart for the precinct, designed as a shared city space for people to gather - like a piazza- with planting, lighting, seating and year-round activations such as weekly events and seasonal festivals.  

  • Morrison eatery – A bright and colourful eatery with a bustling, fun and friendly vibe. Similar to Christchurch’s ‘Little High’, people will choose food from a range of local and family-owned businesses, dining in or outside in undercover seating areas. This is planned for the former Just Jeans and Sunglass Hut area, with the buildings undergoing extensive refurbishment. Meanwhile, the adjacent building behind the existing Morrison Café building will also be refurbished to house a bakery, and will be the first part of the development works to start.  

  • Rooftop bar and dining options are also being considered. 

  • Upgraded buildings – overall, works will include recladding, strengthening and modernising facades while respecting heritage streetscapes. 

  • The Selwyn Place side of the precinct will also be refurbished, with a new façade and laneway better linking MORRISON to Selwyn Place and to Piki Mai / Cathedral hill. Retail on the ground floor will be designed to be flexible to suit new tenancies wanting to come to Nelson, as well as quality pop-up and incubator spaces. Offices will be on the other two floors above.