WE Are Books — Christchurch Central
A secondhand bookshop in Christchurch Central, Christchurch. Part of the Greater Christchurch secondhand bookshops directory — see also our NZ used-book price guide.
About
WE Are Books is a volunteer-run charity bookshop in the front room of Canterbury WEA’s Gloucester Street villa — one of the few places to buy secondhand books inside the four avenues. Purchases support affordable adult and community education in Christchurch.
Stock leans quality over chaos: New Zealand writing and non-fiction are a standout, alongside fiction, children’s books (with a kids’ reading corner), politics, history, climate, cookery and more. Leather armchairs invite a slow browse. Central-city visitors can combine it with Custard Square at the Arts Centre on a fair-weather day.
Price tip: Charity pricing — reviewers call stock cheap and well conditioned.
What you’ll find
Well-organised donated books with strong NZ and Christchurch sections, fiction, kids, politics, history and cookery.
Practical info
- Address
- 59 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8013
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 9:30am–3pm; Sat–Sun 11am–3pm
- Phone
- 03 366 0285
- Website
- www.cwea.org.nz/we-are-books
Volunteer-run nonprofit bookshop in the CWEA villa.
Visitor notes & reviews
“Wide variety of very cheap books and kind staff in a lovely central secondhand bookstore.”
2026-06 · Google review via Op Spot
“Central-city charity shop supporting WEA education; NZ titles a standout feature.”
2024-11 · Waka Toa Ora / Healthy Christchurch