Editorial: Growth can only be good for city

The Aucklanders are coming and lots are already here.

In the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend Carmen Hall reported there has been a big spike in Auckland investors targeting the Tauranga property market - with one agent describing it as an Auckland "invasion".

Core Logic figures showed Auckland investor activity in the Tauranga property market had jumped by 10 per cent since 2005.

And New Zealand Post statistics showed 406 households requested a postal redirection from Auckland to Tauranga or the Western Bay of Plenty in the past six months.

That was an increase of 40 per cent on the previous six months when 290 households had their mail redirected.

It is good news for our Bay economy on all fronts.

I am hoping that the influx of big city dwellers provokes a boom in more boutique shopping, restaurants and attracts more big-name shows, exhibitions and musicians here.

What better way to welcome the Aucklanders than with a big steaming latte?

The RSA might not seem the obvious choice for a coffee to those fresh off Jervois Rd, but in fact the Mount RSA has just undergone an extreme makeover.

It is out with battered bar snacks and beer, and in with pain au chocolat pastries and salmon croissants.

The Mount RSA's new Foxhole Cafe has just become the smart face of the RSA's nationwide re-invention to offer licensed cafes to the public in a bid to reverse the trend of club closures and amalgamations.

Mount RSA manager Andrew Beunter told our reporter: "Coffee is the new beer."

Patrons can even enjoy a pinot noir on the deck.

Aucklanders, eat your heart out.