Hokianga residents unhappy to lose i-Site

Far North Mayor John Carter.

Hokianga residents upset about losing their purpose-built visitor information centre are due to meet Far North Mayor John Carter today to voice their concerns.

The combined i-Site and Hokianga Economic Development Centre opened in March 2010 at a cost to ratepayers of $354,000. It was initially shared by the i-Site, a council service centre, Te Roroa, Footprints Waipoua and Hokianga Art Gallery.

Designed as a one-stop shop for information, services and crafts, it was touted as part of a plan to lift Hokianga's economy. It was built as a public-private partnership with the council paying for the building and the Lloyd Family Trust providing the land.

As from March 31, however, the 225sq m building will be leased for up to 18 years (an initial six-year term followed by two six-year rights of renewal) to the owner of the Opononi Four Square destroyed by fire in June last year.

Following the blaze, the council allowed Paresh Patel to set up a temporary shop in the i-Site building so essential services such as mail and groceries could be retained in Opononi.

Rebuilding the store is under way but it is understood the building's owner planned to increase the rent. As a result Mr Patel asked the council if he could stay in the i-Site building, and a long-term lease was agreed at council's November meeting.

The i-Site will move out at the end of March with no plans as yet for a replacement. Mr Carter, however, has assured locals the council would find a solution and there was plenty of space left on the Opononi site.

Hokianga residents such as Peter Oldham are concerned by the lack of consultation or warning about the decision to close the i-Site and lease the building out to a private business.

It would also give the Opononi Four Square, with its bigger premises, plentiful parking and relatively low rent, a "huge advantage" over the store in Omapere, he said.

Sue Jackson, owner of the Globetrekkers Lodge in Omapere, said squeezing the i-Site into a corner of the temporary Four Square had confused tourists and contributed to a drop in bookings.

The decision to move the i-Site out long-term was made without talking to tourism operators or local residents.

"We pay our rates, then we get treated like this. It's a fait accompli," Ms Jackson said.

She was also concerned the rebuilt shop could end up empty because Omapere and Opononi, with a combined winter population of less than 500, could not support three grocery stores.

Jackie Walker, also of Omapere, likened the "aesthetically incongruous" decision to turning Kaitaia's Te Ahu Centre into a Pak 'n Save.

The meeting with Mr Carter is due to take place at 2pm in the i-Site car park.

A plan to temporarily house the Four Square in the South Hokianga Memorial Hall was turned down by the hall committee. The former i-Site and museum was demolished in 2010 when it was undermined by erosion.