Everyone can agree on one thing: we need more people in the CBD. Photo / Michael Cunningham
A central business district without business? While we are not quite there yet, empty shops in downtown Whangārei don't enhance the prospect of a bustling CBD in the region's largest city.
A recent count conducted by the Northern Advocate shows there are 41 empty shops out of over 300 ground-level premises.
That is down from 48 shops two years ago but it doesn't include the number of vacant spaces on second and third storeys.
While major developments are happening at the fringes of our CBD - the shiny new Hundertwasser, the prospect of Oruku Landing, a brand new park at the Town Basin – the heart of town continues to gradually waste away.
There is a will for change but some major hurdles must be overcome, including infrastructure issues, the need for more investors and retailers, and a shift from a car-focused city experience.
Simon Reiher, civil engineer and director of Cato Bolam Consultants, says it's all about the people: "You've got to get people into town to make this a more vibrant space."
He believes building apartments with links to the CBD and bringing in students could pull some economic levers.
"We need some exciting new buildings here. There is too much unutilised and uneconomic property."
However, Reiher currently sees no incentive for landlords to make major investments and develop their assets.
Many property owners the Northern Advocate has approached were not willing to comment.
One landlord, who did not want to be named, said high rates implemented by the Whangārei District Council would drive up rental prices. This made it less lucrative for shops to open.
They said more cultural events, including music and theatre, as well as boutique shops, could lure more people in.
"Satellite areas like Okara and the Town Basin are busier than the CBD. There is too much focus on the Town Basin, but it's too small. We need the CBD. It would be good to connect both."
Meanwhile, Reiher's proposal to get students into town has seen some success.
Last year NorthTec opened its City Centre Learning Hub on Bank St and it is aware of the role it is playing in the town's business woes.
"NorthTec is committed to revitalising the CBD," Lisette Buckle, pathway manager for service industries, said.
"Our position in this quite iconic area is an opportunity for the town."
Buckle said students who drop in for learning sessions enjoy the closeness to town and often draw their children, family or friends into the vicinity.
Another people magnet are co-working spaces where entrepreneurs and small businesses share a large office.
Northland Inc's The Orchard on Walton St is such a place, and general manager for investment and infrastructure, Vaughan Cooper, says Northland Inc deliberately chose a location close to the CBD.
He believes establishing more hotels and conference venues close to town could draw more business-minded people to Whangārei.
A steady supply of foot traffic can also come from inner-city residents.
The Whangārei District Council published a plan in 2019 – the City Core Precinct Plan – that mentions rezoning parts of town to allow the mixed use of properties; commercial at the bottom, residential on top.
"Council is definitely keen to see more inner-city living," Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai said.
The City Core Precinct Plan and the Whangārei Complete Streets Masterplan also address infrastructural problems and the council is committed to making the downtown area more pedestrian-friendly.
Measures include reducing traffic in CBD streets, improving pavements, beautifying blank spaces and creating better connections between different parts of the precinct.
"It's all about revitalising the city core to create a welcoming city centre with quality public spaces for people to enjoy shopping, eating out, working and living – for locals and visitors, Mai said.
"The Masterplan outlines plans for 19 streets within the city core. Streets are categorised according to their use, and a design palette is laid out for the materials of each street and footpath including things like paving, tree planting and street furniture.
"It means the city core will have a cohesive look and feel as development continues over the years to come."
Mai said having the plan meant WDC could prioritise its spending and provide certainty for business owners.
In June the council completed the first stage of the one-way traffic project on John St, between Dent and Robert streets. This included upgrading the intersection with Dent St and the pedestrian crossing to the waterfront.
Footpaths were improved, old bollards and dead trees were removed, and some bollards were replaced.
The pedestrian waiting areas at the traffic signals have been improved and new traffic islands have been installed.
This first stage included temporary surfaces that will be replaced when the full masterplan upgrade is carried out over the length of John St in the next 4-5 years.
The council has also increasing visual cues reinforcing that the CBD is a pedestrian area, with picnic tables, planter boxes, street murals and raised crossings.
While introducing e-scooters to Whangārei hasn't been on the agenda yet, the council would be interested in community feedback.
Mai said the opening of the Hundertwasser Art Centre and the new Town Basin Park would be an important link between the waterfront, the Hātea Loop Walkway and the central city.
Businesswoman Susan Cates-Otto, who owns Eko Hub on John St, believes the council's vision for the CBD could indeed bring more foot traffic into town – as long as these changes keep being implemented.
"From what I know the council is planning, it could be really good for the town."
However, Cates-Otto – like many others – mentioned parking as the major point of contention.
When asked what the council's stance on parking was and whether people are ready to ditch their car to walk, Mai said.
"Our research shows that Whangārei has ample parking around the city centre, if people are prepared to walk a bit, so we are making the centre of the city as walkable as possible.
"This usually isn't much of a problem as a person who visits one shop usually visits a few others at the same time, and is already walking.
"People walking around in a space like the city core is what makes it vibrant and improves the activity in shops and cafes."
Under the City Core Precinct Plan, a development of the carpark building in town could go under review.
Chris De'Ath, who owns Booky Boo Gelato on Cameron St, says the CBD needs "really good parking at the periphery".
"I think we have a neat city centre. The Town Basin is definitely cool and the Hundertwasser is a game-changer for us."
But we have to start thinking bigger, De'Ath says.
"We still got this small-town mentality. We have to think as a good, classy product."
Meanwhile, the Strand Mall is emptier than ever, with 12 empty premises at the moment.
Despite the desolation, two young entrepreneurs, sisters Alivia and Kelly McCarthy, launched their beauty business Kiss my Lash in the mall at the end of last year.
They say most of their clients come through online bookings. There was hardly any foot traffic.
"The Strand is just dead. A lot of the places don't even look like they are ready for lease," Kelly McCarthy said.
The pair said fast-food chains and a larger, more diverse range of shops for women's fashion could get the city booming again.
"It's just been all the same here since we're 10 years old. There is no excitement for young people," Kelly McCarthy said.
"No one is trying in poor old Whangārei."
Mall manager Merv Williams says there is an issue with supply and demand but he was hopeful.
"We need some bigger tenants in the mall."
He said there was a demand for big chains to return to the inner city but no one was willing to rent at the moment.
Northland Waste has been recognised for its people-focused growth in this year's awards.