A future development has locals excited at the possibility of a Chinatown, reports Helen Laurent The sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Asia could be headed for New Lynn. Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey recently acknowledged the opportunity for the creation of a Chinatown in New Lynn. Although the council has not made anyformal plans for a Chinatown-type complex, officials say it is a possible use for the area. "The draft plan adopted this year for the regeneration of the town center does include a Merchants Quarter that would certainly lend itself to that sort of a development. And given New Lynn's large Asian population, we may well see a Chinatown naturally evolve there," says council spokesperson Sonya Leahy. Ms Leahy says the vision for the area, located near the New Lynn library, would be a place to meet, shop, eat and walk through to entertainment and restaurants. Reaction to the idea of a Chinatown has been warm. Ann Pala of the Waitakere Ethnic Board thinks it would be a "fantastic thing" for New Lynn. "It would bring out the diversity we have here and now with a free trade deal with China, this would mean we would be bringing China even closer to New Zealand." Edmond Yee of the New Zealand Chinese Association had not heard of the Chinatown idea but reckons it would be successful with proper planning. "The closest thing to that type of thing is on New North Rd where there is a group of shops and food outlets that cater for the Asian market. That has gone off quite well and has proved popular with not just the Asian community but everyone." The Aucklander asked shoppers at the New North Rd Asian supermarket complex, known as 955, for their opinions. Mt Albert resident Kathleen Alo shops here twice a week and is also a town planner. "In New Lynn, it would work if it was well planned. Here, there is a lot of rubbish and crates are on the outside. If they were able to keep those out the back and have a loading area, it would be better. They would also need good car parking and good access. That is the key," she says. According to the 2006 New Zealand Census, the New Lynn ward - which includes New Lynn, Glen Eden, Glendene, Kelston and Green Bay has an Asian population of 21 per cent, compared with 16 per cent in all of Waitakere City.
