Mount Mainstreet chair Jo Veale. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford
Mount Maunganui businesses are facing uncertainty and declining foot traffic in the aftermath of last week’s fatal landslide.
But business leaders say collaboration, clear communication and community support will be key to recovery.
Six people died in the landslide at the Mount Maunganui campground, prompting cordons around the area and road closures that have directly affected businesses at the southern end of the town.
On Tuesday evening, affected business owners met with Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale, city councillors, Tauranga City Council staff, Tourism Bay of Plenty, Priority One and Tauranga Business Chamber at the He Maimai Aroha Community Care Centre on Maunganui Rd.
Mount Mainstreet chairwoman Jo Veale said the mood at the meeting was emotional, but constructive.
“This is people’s livelihoods, but what came through very strongly was concern for staff.
“Many businesses are thinking about how they can support employees who live week to week if this disruption continues.”
Veale said fewer than 20 businesses sat directly inside the cordon, with up to 30 affected in the wider northern Mount area. These included hotels, cafés, restaurants and office-based businesses.
She said business owners appreciated hearing directly from the mayor about recovery efforts and next steps.
“He was very clear and very articulate about what’s happening on the ground and what the next week could look like.”
Mount Mainstreet remained open, but Veale said businesses were already feeling the impact of reduced visitor numbers and ongoing uncertainty.
Foot traffic data showed a decline of up to 13.7% on some days, although the cancellation of a large cruise ship on one of those days also contributed to the drop.
“For January, that’s significant,” Veale said. “This is our peak season. What happens now affects our ability to get through winter.”
Veale, who owns Mount Backpackers and a retail tea store on Main St, said her accommodation business had experienced cancellations of around 30% — a sharp contrast to a period that was normally fully booked.
“It’s unheard of for this time of year.
“People are unsure about what’s happening in the area.”
Thousands of visitors were expected to pour into Mount Maunganui this coming week, with 11 cruise ship visits scheduled between today and February 7.
Veale said Tourism Bay of Plenty was working closely with cruise lines to encourage passengers to remain in the Mount and spend time on Mount Main Street, with messaging focused on welcoming visitors while acknowledging the city’s grief.
“We are a city in grief, but we also have an obligation to show manaakitanga to our visitors.”
So far, cruise passengers have been encouraged to visit local businesses rather than being redirected elsewhere, although Veale said there were concerns this could change if uncertainty continued.
In response to parking losses near the cordon, Tauranga City Council has opened public parking behind Coronation Park, a move Veale said was implemented within hours of being raised.
She said the council had also established a business support group to provide wrap-around assistance, including legal advice, staffing support and help connecting businesses with available relief funding. There was no confirmed financial package, but Veale said businesses left the meeting feeling hopeful.
“It might not necessarily be immediate financial relief, but the support group will work with individual businesses to assess their needs and help in any way they can.”
She highlighted the response from local businesses in the days following the landslide, with hospitality operators preparing about 1000 meals for emergency workers and responders.
“Part of the healing journey now for us as a community is acknowledging the impact on families and also the healing process for the rest of the community,” Veale said.
Encouraging people to return to local businesses would help both financially and emotionally, she said.
“One meal in one business by one person makes a huge difference — not only financially, but for the vibe.”
Looking ahead, Veale said upcoming events could help restore confidence and foot traffic if managed sensitively. This weekend’s sold-out Fisher concert at Bay Oval — expected to bring about 25,000 people to Mount Maunganui — would be the first major music event to be held at the venue.
Mount Mainstreet had already planned promotional activity around the concert but paused its messaging following the landslide, she said, opting instead for a slower and more considerate approach.
“It’s about getting the balance right. We’re very aware of what the community is going through.”
Veale said Mount Mainstreet was exploring low-key initiatives to maintain vibrancy while access to Mauao remains restricted.
“We’ve been around a long time. But we need locals to come back now. Summer keeps our businesses alive through winter.”