Lana Smith and her fellow staff members at Yo and Co icecream, waffle and dessert bar in Mount Maunganui have been kept busy this holiday season. Photo/George Novak
Lana Smith and her fellow staff members at Yo and Co icecream, waffle and dessert bar in Mount Maunganui have been kept busy this holiday season. Photo/George Novak
The cafes and eateries of Mount Maunganui are feeling the holiday heat – inside, tables are full and outside, paths are a blur with foot traffic.
But not all of those working in hospitality have benefited from the summer love, with some business owners suggesting an unseasonal quiet patch could be because there was no New Year's Eve event at the Mount.
That has not affected Yo and Co icecream, waffle and dessert bar and Polar Dessert Bar, however.
"It's always the same, on Boxing Day it kicks in and then we don't stop until the end of February," said co-owner of both dessert stores, Pam White.
"We have got the second shop open now around the corner, so that's obviously making us busier than ever. But yes, it is definitely busier; we've had to take more staff on this year than we do normally."
He expected that to carry on for the next few weeks.
Yo and Co icecream, waffle and dessert bar in Mount Maunganui has been busier than ever since Christmas. Photo/George Novak
However, Albert Wilson, co-owner of Zeytin at the Mount – a Mediterranean cafe and takeout – said business was "definitely down on last year".
New Year's Day was especially bad.
"We traded probably half of what we did last year on New Year's Day."
Wilson, who has co-owned Zeytin for nine years, said having no New Year's Eve celebration at the Mount could be why.
"In general, the people that did come to that event – those are probably the people who come to us on New Year's Day."
They were the younger visitors, he said.
But Wilson said there was also a positive side to that event not being held – Zeytin was able to trade on New Year's Eve night, which they have not been able to do in the past because of the age demographic of those in town.
He said it was a "no-win situation".
"It was good that they didn't have an event, but then it was bad that there was nothing else."
Jackie Wong, owner of Mount Fish and Chips, also said it had been quieter, which he found disappointing.
He blamed the weather and there being no New Year's Eve event at Mount Maunganui.
"We want a bit of the holiday people to come here to help the business out. I just talked to the neighbours [surrounding businesses] and they agreed ... that it was really, really quieter this year."
Wong was hoping a New Year's Eve event would return to the Mount and said he would voice that to Mount Mainstreet.
Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless said the Mount concert was moved on the specific advice of the police because of serious assaults and offending at the 2015 event.
"We've ended up with a more family-friendly atmosphere where people can enjoy themselves and celebrate safely without the threat posed by troublemakers.
"The impact on business, as a result, is that the trouble seekers have not turned up and that's a good thing."
Mount Mainstreet manager Ingrid Fleming agreed the Mount would have been a bit quieter for some businesses.
"When the concert is on, there's a lot more people in the Mount likely to produce more spending."
Fleming said it was important the Mount was not forgotten and a family-friendly event would be welcomed in the future.
It was paramount to make sure youth were safe.
"We've got to make sure that those teenagers are educated and understand that it's not acceptable with what was happening in the past. That the Mount will not tolerate alcohol preloading morphing into inebriation."
She said there was still a great atmosphere at Mount Maunganui, it was "very busy" with cruise ship and out-of-town visitors, and retailers and eateries were doing well.
Tourism Bay of Plenty head of marketing Kath Low said about 29,000 cruise passengers had come into the Port of Tauranga since December 17.
She said major events such as the international cricket would also help with visitor numbers, as would Christmas visitors.
Toilet traffic increase
Counters were installed at the Mount Surf Club toilets in September.
This is what they show:
- Visits during September: 22,221 - Visits during October: 30,444 - Visits during November: 34,373 - Visits during December: 50,805
"It's nice, there's always something that's different. It's vibrant. It's open on the weekends."
Peter Kampfraath, 67, Rotorua
"There is a variety of different shops that we don't have in Rotorua."
Christine Kampfraath, 64, Rotorua
"The fact the Twenty20s are on and there's just loads of events ... Bad Company's playing on Friday, well that guy [and Foreigner], the market on Saturday. So loads of things to do."
"Friends. I think it's definitely the weather as well and I've just been coming here pretty much ever since I grew up with one of my friends who also has a bach here. I guess it's just the whole atmosphere of the place – it's really, really nice – and especially being able to walk up the Mount, the two different beaches as well, and we went over to Matakana Island yesterday which was really nice."
Ella Walter, 25, Auckland
"I heard from other guys that it's nice here and the beach is very good and the Mount is interesting."
