Ana Apatu: Draw people to live in city's heart

Ana Apatu

I am invited to the Hastings District Council's mayoral symposium "Moving our city centre forward - actions for impact". The brief: "Drawing on expert knowledge this HDC symposium, in partnership with Hastings City Business Association, is to create an action plan to create a vibrant CBD." For many of us locally, we see the struggles of our inner-city Hastings. Dead at night, empty shops, online shopping - like many provincial towns this is a challenge. Presentations include Hastings District Council's strategies - urban design strategies, long-term plan strategies, strategies for strategies.

As James Lunday, an architect with experience in inner-city rejuvenation, tells us we have enough strategies. What we need now is courage and to start somewhere. Like most sitting in the audience, I can't help wonder if what we really need is to create a heart by bringing people into the city - not just to shop, but to live there. We could do this by creating inner-city residential areas. Feedback from the audience includes making inner city Hastings more bike friendly. Flat"green economical. Young bright presenters show us data which demonstrates online shopping trends. Rightly so, there is a challenge for retailers to "get with it" and make the most of online shopping. Most of us online shoppers will purchase our product from within New Zealand v offshore. We hear from some retailers who appear to be struggling while others are thriving.

We are presented with highlights of some changes that have been positive for inner-city Hastings. City assist - the purple T-shirt employees promoting safety in the CBD.

The Nelson Park skatepark is another positive example which has brought young people closer to the city. Mr Lunday, of Common Ground Studio, an internationally recognised urban developer, with specialist knowledge of heritage property and its re-use for commercial purposes, won the show for me.

Originally from Scotland, he now calls Christchurch home. He reminded us to create a city around culture. He is passionate about rescuing buildings v demolishing them. Currently working on Christchurch rebuild, he reminds us there are (offshore) teams experienced in rebuilds after natural disasters.

New to Hastings City, and with fresh eyes, he had walked the streets and gave this feedback. Start and develop a particular area. Yes, it takes courage. He emphasised creating a "heart". He then tells us to concentrate on the block which includes the opera house. Once this is completed extend out from there, the library, art gallery and take it down a block to Queen St on the same side of the railway line. This area has huge potential to create residential living areas upstairs from retail areas.

Whether it was his Scottish accent, sense of humour or technical expertise, he was great. He reminded us to identify what is unique to us and draw on that.

Nick Jones, DHB public health physician, quite rightly commented that part of our uniqueness is our Maori and Pacific communities which we need to consider with further development. I can't help wonder if we also need to be reminded of our youthful population and potential to encourage education. Make our residential areas in the inner-city youth friendly and provide free buses to EIT. Develop apartments that are affordable and can cater for our influx of student doctors who require accommodation close to the hospital.

There is an announcement at one of the breaks about a symposium on parking. Most of us would say we are incredibly spoilt when it comes to parking. If anything, free parking should be available away from the city centre to encourage us all to walk. It's better for us and there is also evidence we will shop/spend more.

The worst thing for me when walking into a shop is hearing retailers complaining about how bad business is - it's the quickest way of turning me off.

I believe we have real potential to create a more vibrant inner-city Hastings. Having recently been named most beautiful city in New Zealand, let's be positive.

Personally, I think our planners have done a great job with Hastings Urban design. We just need some courage and expertise to take the next step for a vibrant inner-city Hastings.

-Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere