Couper said while he would be holding agencies to account to deliver, he expected it could take two to three years before change was felt.<\/p>\n
Difficulties of inner-city business<\/p>\n
Inner-city businesses shutting shop was not new to central Whang\u0101rei, nor unique to the city<\/a>, Couper said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnecdotally, we hear other cities grappling with the same problems<\/a>, not even just here in New Zealand but overseas too.<\/p>\n \u201cOnline shopping, a change in retail spending habits<\/a>, all make a difference. We will take learnings from other places but we have to deal with our city.\u201d<\/p>\n Challenges included Northland\u2019s unemployment rate of 8.8% in June \u2013 the highest of any region in the country<\/a>.<\/p>\n But Couper said there was plenty of job growth coming, with major projects including the hospital rebuild<\/a>, Northport expansion and start of the Northern Expressway, plus potential projects such as a biorefinery at Marsden Point<\/a>.<\/p>\n Developing a tertiary education hub<\/a> in Whang\u0101rei\u2019s Knowledge Education and Arts Hub (Kea) would not only train Northlanders for these projects but bring significant input into the CBD, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will bring 2500 to 4000 students into the Forum North area which will then flow into the town and there will be a significant amount of accommodation required for students as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The council encouraged inner-city living and was looking at other changes, such as new parking technology<\/a> and extra lighting, he said.<\/p>\n Couper said Whang\u0101rei CBD\u2019s small size was a positive, as it was personal and small enough to walk around.<\/p>\n While growth areas like Ruak\u0101k\u0101 and Waipu were also growing their business offerings, Couper was adamant they would not compete with the town centre.<\/p>\n \u201cThis district is going to grow. It\u2019s going to take off and we need to make sure that our city centre is a place where those people can come and find what they want in a city,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI do feel positive about the future of our district \u2013 I think we\u2019re really on the cusp of good things.\u201d<\/p>\n Citywide strategy will take CBD forward<\/p>\n Tim Robinson, an inner-city business owner and acting chief executive for NorthChamber<\/a>, admitted more CBD businesses were considering shutting their doors.<\/p>\n But he was also confident change was just around the corner.<\/p>\n As part of the mayoral taskforce, Robinson was pushing for a citywide business strategy, funded a third each by council, central government and businesses.<\/p>\n The strategy would give a vision to help businesses through the latest challenges<\/a>, and set them up to cater for things such as the tertiary education hub, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s how to provide businesses on the ground with some immediate hope that it\u2019s worth hanging on for the next six to 12 months, in the knowledge that things are going to get better<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nWhang\u0101rei Mayor Ken Couper wants to see the CBD thriving but admits it will take time to turn it around.<\/p>\n
Community leaders want Whangarei’s CBD to be full of people and thriving year-round. Photo \/ Denise Piper<\/p>\n
Whang\u0101rei’s Mayoral Inner City Taskforce, including Jensen Webber from Mahitahi Hauora (left, speaking) recently told Prime Minister Christopher Luxon what they hope to achieve. Photo \/ Denise Piper<\/p>\n
Tim Robinson, co-owner of Bernina Northland and NorthChamber chief executive, says customers need to have a great experience to keep them coming back. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n