Editorial: A bold new approach to CBD needed

Businessman Michael Whittaker and Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule

Dark dusty windows are scattered throughout the bright shop fronts lining both Hastings' and Napier's central business district.

The only splice of colour in these windows are the real estate signs trying to attract new buyers or lessees.

There is nothing new about empty shops littering regional centres, however, there are more vacant buildings in Hastings than there have been in the past 15 years.

To make matters worse, the company behind a recent survey expects further store closures and relocations to happen in the coming year.

It's sad to see sites that were once full of life now vacant. High profile sites that once housed Postie Plus, Pagani and Whitcoulls have been empty for more than a year.

And while the Kiwibank's relocation to a sparkling new purpose built call centre and retail site is great for jobs, it's another blow for the main street.

Back in the 60s and 70s Hastings was buzzing with shoppers, so I'm told.

But since then retail has diversified and sprung up elsewhere leaving Hastings with an over supply of retail sites.

Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule has called it a perfect storm - the sprawling central business district is too big for shrinking numbers of national retailers.

The solution is to "narrow down" the retail precinct by changing the outer edges of the city to office space, similar to the Kiwibank hub.

Hastings City Business Association chairman Michael Whittaker says it's time for change and it needs to be bold.

I wholeheartedly agree. The outlook is grim unless a proactive approach is taken.

We need more businesses like Kiwibank bringing workers into the centre of town and breathing life back into the streets.