Life Pharmacy Orrs uncle-and-nephew pharmacists and owners Ken Orr (left) and Dave Lornie say the pharmacy has been hit by a dramatic change in the way people buy their cosmetics. Photo / Denise Piper
Life Pharmacy Orrs uncle-and-nephew pharmacists and owners Ken Orr (left) and Dave Lornie say the pharmacy has been hit by a dramatic change in the way people buy their cosmetics. Photo / Denise Piper
Online shopping and a lack of vibrancy in Whangārei’s central business district are being cited as the reasons for a well-known pharmacy closing after 80 years.
Life Pharmacy Orrs in Cameron Street Mall will close its dispensary on December 24 and its retail store on January 31.
Patients will bedirected to other Orrs pharmacies, with outstanding repeats and prescriptions dispensed by Unichem Orrs Pharmacy Tui in Maunu and available for pick-up, with notice, from Orrs Kowhai Pharmacy on Rust Ave.
Pharmacist Dave Lornie said it was sad the pharmacy had to close after being a mainstay of the Whangārei CBD for generations.
His grandfather, Bill Orr, opened the pharmacy as Orrs Prescription Chemist in 1944, and his uncle Ken Orr took over the business in 1998. Lornie started working at Cameron St in 2008 and became a partner in 2015.
“Prescriptions and medicines – along with the retail market for cosmetics, fragrance, skincare, gifts and sunglasses – has changed substantially, including a shift of retail sales to online shopping.”
Foot traffic in Whangārei CBD has also dropped as offices move out of the downtown area and into surrounding suburbs, taking some of the vibrancy out of the central city, Lornie said.
“The CBD needs support when challenging behaviours occur – a multi-agency response is required.”
There is a lack of vibrancy in the CBD and behaviour that puts people off, says pharmacist Dave Lornie. Photo / Denise Piper
Parking and the lack of free car parking is another bugbear, impacting visitors’ easy access to the CBD, Lornie said.
In recent consultation run by Whangārei District Council, the pharmacy supported two hours of free parking and affordable full-day parking for workers. The council is yet to decide on a new parking management strategy.
Ken Orr said the change to the way people buy their cosmetics was not only hurting Life Pharmacy Orrs but also other Life pharmacies, as well as stores like the now-closed Smith & Caughey’s in Auckland and Ballantynes in Christchurch.
CBD safety and economy top of agenda for new council
Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper says a new taskforce will aim to address concerns about the city centre's safety and viability. Photo / Supplied
“I definitely think that there is an element in the CBD that makes people feel uncomfortable – rightly or wrongly,” he said.
“It’s a really complex problem and it comes down to funding for appropriate Government agencies, policing, lighting and the facilities around helping homeless people.”
One of Couper’s first moves as new mayor was to set up a committee called the Mayoral Taskforce for City Centre Revitalisation, which will help support economic revitalisation of the CBD, and make it a social and safe place.
The committee includes Couper and councillors Scott McKenzie, Crichton Christie, Brad Flower and Marie Olsen.
But he said the council cannot do this work on its own and will need support of business owners, NorthChamber, police and central government, especially Kāinga Ora.
“It’s difficult when central government has asked council to get back to its core activities but the community has asked us for help. Central government has to be involved too.”
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
