Brew Craft Beer Pub general manager David Stanway hoped having the Waka Maori on Tauranga's waterfront would draw more people to the area. Photo / John Borren
Brew Craft Beer Pub general manager David Stanway hoped having the Waka Maori on Tauranga's waterfront would draw more people to the area. Photo / John Borren
Downtown business owners are split on whether a plan to place a 75-metre waka on Tauranga's waterfront will help or hinder trade in the area.
Tauranga Mainstreet is carrying out a feasibility study into bringing the Waka Maori (pictured right), which was built during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, to the waterfront.
Macau restaurant owner Terry Scott said he was concerned carparks could be lost if the proposal went ahead.
"I think what's down on the waterfront there is fantastic. I can't see that bringing people into town at all and where would they park?"
Mr Scott said he was considering buying other properties on The Strand but would be looking elsewhere if the plan were to go ahead.
"This is going to be another peg in the coffin that is going to push them out of the CBD to the Mount for dining at night," he said. "One thing about Tauranga that brings people to the Strand is that they can sit here, they can look at the tranquillity of the harbour."
Fancy That owner Frances Campbell said it was a "ridiculous" idea.
"The CBD doesn't need another white elephant anywhere near it. It needs parking parity through the whole town and it needs to have the waterfront carparking reinstated. If they did that, there would be no room for a plastic waka."
However, Cobb & Co owner Sue Gower said having the waka on The Strand could be "really exciting". "Anything that brings people to downtown Tauranga is exciting and I'm sure the council will think about parking."
Brew Craft Beer Pub general manager David Stanway said he did not see any harm in it as long as no carparks were lost.
"Anything that draws people down to the waterfront and can bring a few more people from the Mount would be good."
Pukehinahina Charitable Trust project director Buddy Mikaere said it was a "terrific" idea.
Tauranga Mainstreet is carrying out a feasibility study into bringing the Waka Maori to the Tauranga waterfront. Photo / APN
"We need another exhibition venue type space like that. I think waka fits in with our idea of what Tauranga is all about as a marsh link between land and sea," he said.
"This might be the future home for the Gate Pa exhibition. That would be wonderful if that did happen and there was room for other things."
Tauranga City councillors were waiting for the feasibility study to be completed before making any decisions but initial reactions were mixed.
Deputy mayor Kelvin Clout was in favour of the proposal as long as the council's financial investment was very limited.
Councillors Rick Curach, John Robson and Catherine Stewart were concerned it would be too big for the waterfront and affect the outlook.
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