KEY POINTS:
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey has attacked criticism of his idea of a Chinatown development in New Lynn, saying it should be judged on economic merit rather than on letters from people who do not like the Chinese resurgence.
"This is not a cultural or social move," Mr Harvey said in a report to last night's council meeting.
"This is a marketing idea which will help the local economy and give Waitakere residents, as well as those from further afield, a fantastic experience of great food and a buzzing town centre. I think there has been a lot of niggles from my council colleagues about it and I want a clear buy-in from the community whether they feel it's something worth pursuing."
Mr Harvey says New Lynn is "dreary and sluggish" and has nothing of high interest.
Councillor Peter Chan told the Herald misconceptions had arisen about Mr Harvey's idea of traditional Chinese gates as an entryway to a section of New Lynn, which had the highest percentage of Chinese people per head of population in the country.
"We don't want to have a ghetto for just Chinese," said Mr Chan.
"No, we will have Chinese mixing with others."
Mr Harvey said he was keen to "connect with the local business community" to present the concept of New Lynn as a new town centre, with a possible Chinatown connection and/or a link bridge to the transport hub.
Graeme Berryman, a businessman for 40 years in New Lynn, said he wanted details of the proposal.
"As a business association, all we ever wanted was better footpaths, some lighting, some security and a decent public toilet. That's what it desperately needs.
"It doesn't need two gates for graffiti to be scribbled over."
Mr Berryman said there was more support for a New Lynn theme which drew on its heritage of clay-based products such as Crown Lynn potteries.
"The Chinese presence is a recent thing."
Mr Berryman said Chinatown attractions overseas had grown over time in areas where Chinese had settled because of low land costs.
"It's not something you can just create."
