Base Woodfired Pizza is a family-owned Christchurch institution with a story rooted in the aftermath of the 2010 Canterbury Earthquakes. Founded by Chris, Andy, Gill and Rod Thomson, the business was born from a neighbourhood woodfired oven session during the power outage following the September earthquake — a practical act of community that sparked a business idea. What began as a mobile woodfired oven concept, attending events and festivals across Canterbury, evolved into a permanent fixture at the Re:Start mall, where a custom-fitted shipping container housed a large wood-burning pizza oven imported from Italy. The walls were lined with bricks recycled from demolished Christchurch buildings — a deliberate nod to the city's past and a symbol of its future.
Base has since grown to multiple Christchurch locations, including Little High Eatery (255 St Asaph Street), Riverside (96 Oxford Terrace), Montreal HQ (107 Montreal Street), and Homebase Shirley. The Montreal HQ location accepts online bookings, while Little High operates as a casual counter-service setting — no reservations required for groups under ten. All ingredients are fresh and locally sourced, with a stated focus on supporting Canterbury businesses.
Still family owned, the business maintains its original focus on flavour, family, and fun. Delivery is available via Uber Eats, gift cards can be purchased online, and catering and corporate orders of over eight pizzas can be arranged by contacting the team directly at [email protected] or [email protected].
Some businesses are planned in boardrooms. Base Woodfired Pizza was born in a power outage. When the September 2010 Canterbury earthquake knocked out electricity across Christchurch, the Thomson family — Chris, Andy, Gill and Rod — did what came naturally: they fired up their woodfired oven and fed the neighbours. The response was so enthusiastic that what had been a private family passion became the seed of a business.
The Thomsons had spent years experimenting around their home woodfired oven, refining flavour combinations and hosting informal pizza nights that grew to include neighbours and friends. Once they decided to take it public, they started with a mobile woodfired oven concept, taking it to events and festivals across Canterbury. It was the SCIRT World Buskers Festival that first brought them to wider Christchurch attention.
A conversation with Paul Lonsdale, then manager of the Re:Start mall, led to Base taking up a spot in the food court — first with the mobile unit, then with a custom-fitted 10-foot shipping container. Inside, the centrepiece was a large wood-burning pizza oven imported from Italy. The walls were lined with bricks recycled from demolished Christchurch buildings — a deliberate gesture toward the city's past and its future. Every inch of that container was put to work.
All ingredients are fresh and locally sourced, with Base explicitly committed to supporting other Canterbury businesses. When Re:Start mall eventually closed, Base transitioned to Little High Eatery at 255 St Asaph Street, where they operate alongside seven other family-owned eateries. The business is still family owned and still built around its original focus: flavour, family, and fun.
Base Woodfired Pizza now operates across multiple Christchurch locations. The Little High Eatery outlet (255 St Asaph Street) is a casual counter-service experience — order at the counter, find a seat inside or outside, and wait for the buzzer. No reservations are required for groups up to ten; larger groups can book directly through Little High's website.
The Montreal HQ (107 Montreal Street) is the newest location, with bookings available online. It opens Tuesday through Sunday, with Thursday, Friday, and Saturday offering the longest hours from midday through to 9pm. Monday is closed.
The Riverside location sits at 96 Oxford Terrace, and Homebase Shirley completes the network. Delivery is available via Uber Eats. For corporate or catering orders of more than eight pizzas, the team can be contacted directly at [email protected] or [email protected]. Gift cards are available to purchase online, and the full menu and pricing can be viewed or downloaded from the Base Pizza website.