Plans to revitalise the Rotorua CBD and "take back" the inner city have been given a timely boost, as the number of empty shops nears 100.
Over the past four years, the Rotorua Daily Post has regularly surveyed the area bordered by Fenton, Arawa, Amohia and Amohau Sts, counting the vacant shops.
In May 2009, there were 50. By September last year that had risen to 91, including the units in the Hinemoa Arcade. This week, we counted 73 plus 25 unoccupied in the arcade - a total of 98 vacant stores.
With CBD revitalisation a hot topic, members of a newly formed Inner City Focus Group held a day-long workshop with Rotorua District Council, the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders this week. The focus group was instigated by Rotorua retailer Mike Steiner, who said he had "picked up the ball and ran with it". It now included 180 Rotorua businesses, both retailers and landlords, he said.
"We need to take back our patch and look after it, nurture it, help it to grow," Mr Steiner said.