Gisborne businesses struggling, upset over state of CBD

Two retailers on Gisborne's Gladstone Road Yvonne Beaufoy of Beaufoy and Kim Pittar from Muirs Bookstore.

• Gisborne retailers describe the CBD as “filthy and shabby,” citing aggressive homeless people and reduced foot traffic.
• Some businesses report significant revenue declines, with one cafe down 25%.
• The council and police are working on cleanliness and increased visibility but retailers seek more action.

Gisborne’s CBD is ‘’filthy and shabby’' and like a ‘’third-world country’' with ‘’aggressive’' homeless people scaring people away from town.

This is some of the feedback from retailers who have hit out about the lack of vibrancy and foot traffic in the town centre as they emerge from what one says has been the ‘’worst winter in 17 years’'.

Other Gisborne businesses have also spoken out about how tough things are with one cafe saying its revenue is 25% down and another owner saying she is ‘’emotional – because this is my life and my livelihood and it’s been a struggle’'.

They commented as part of a special Gisborne Herald report into the state of CBD businesses and the town centre. One shop reported it had had a good winter.

The council said a lot of effort went into trying to keep the CBD looking welcoming. The area was cleaned of leaves and water blasted monthly and the council was also looking at a central city custodian to ensure the area was well presented.

Police said they had increased public place visibility across the district, including Gisborne.

Muirs Bookshop owner Kim Pittar said her business had just experienced the “worst winter in 17 years” and like many other retailers The Gisborne Herald spoke to, she was hoping things would improve over summer.

Pittar was happy to be in new premises closer to the middle of Gladstone Rd. But she was still concerned about the growing number of ‘‘aggressive’' homeless people and believed they were scaring people away from town.

She said she was told in May there would be a greater police presence in the main street but she had not seen a single officer.

On a positive note, Pittar loved the various street musicians who played nearby and thought they brought some vibrancy to the area.

She suggested Gisborne District Council employ a couple of musicians to play in the CBD and move around the various blocks.

“It really lifts the atmosphere and makes you feel like you’re in a cool little town.”

Next door, Yvonne Beaufoy, from fashion store Beaufoy, is so fed up by the state of the town centre she is moving to Ballance St at the month’s end.

Beaufoy said she was tired of complaining to the council about the main street’s lack of cleanliness.

She said the CBD was ‘‘filthy and shabby’' with rubbish everywhere.

“I am constantly complaining, but nothing gets done about it.”

“GDC need to put some energy into our main street to encourage people back into town and to get new retailers into the empty shops,” she said.

“When I go to yoga on Peel St in the weekends – there are always bottles and rubbish on the street and you feel like you’re in a third-world country.”

She believes the growth in online shopping is another contributing factor that was “killing local business”.

Gisborne retailers Yvonne Beaufoy and Kim Pittar are fed up with the state of Gisborne's CBD and want improvements.

Paper Plus co-owner Anita Kingston said it had been a hard winter with sales down from last year for the same period but the book industry was suffering due to the cost-of-living crisis and other factors.

Kingston said promoting books by local authors like their current promotion of Monty Soutar’s Kawai and before that, Sam the Trap Man’s new book, helped attract customers.

“You’ve got to support local and they will support you,” she said.

Kingston was confident business would start picking up and would continue to do so in the lead-up to Christmas.

Trish Maclean from Truly fashion store said she’d never experienced such a slow winter.

“This has well and truly surpassed last winter in terms of being tough,” she said.

She thought things picked up after Covid and people seemed to want to come out and support local.

“But it feels like that has stopped. I don’t think we’re getting the volume of outside visitors we used to either.”

Maclean’s neighbour across the road, Jenna McGuffog from Evolution, agrees.

Both fashion retailers wanted to remind people to support local before going online or buying from out of town.

“It makes me emotional – because this is my life and my livelihood and it’s been a struggle,” McGuffog says.

“I thought last winter was hard but this winter was way worse.”

McGuffog was trying to remain optimistic, hoping that with summer coming and the sunny weather of late, people would start shopping again.

Verve cafe owner Ray Teutenberg said times were tough with revenue down 25% on the same time last year despite his best efforts to create a hospitable community hub at the cafe.

Rising costs and fewer customers were a big part of the problem and patrons weren’t spending as much or staying as long, Teutenberg said.

He said the town had been quiet over winter with less foot traffic and a large number of empty shops did not help.

“So many of the buildings in our CBD need upgrades and I think there needs to be an incentive for landlords to attract good tenants.”

BMS at the bottom of Gladstone Rd has had a different experience.

Manager Sam Foster said the shop had a record winter last year and this one had also been good.

She put their continued success down to a broad range of clothing for all ages and a wide price point, from designer to more affordable brands. They also have good online sales to customers from all around the country and a large loyal customer base.

Council acting liveable communities director Kerry Hudson said plenty of effort went into trying to keep the CBD looking welcoming.

“With summer fast approaching, council is in the throes of its pre-season revitalisation process. The new spring plantings are thriving in the planter boxes and the summer flags are up,” she said.

In terms of cleanliness, the CBD area was leaf-blown and water-blasted monthly and litter picked up frequently. Shopkeepers were also encouraged to sweep in front of their stores, Hudson said.

“We are looking into a number of initiatives to make improvements to the cleanliness of the CBD for our busy season including having a central city custodian from December to ensure the area is well presented for all.”

Police said they were currently focusing on increased public place visibility across the district, including Gisborne.

“Police have increased foot and vehicle patrols around main centres and proactive policing remains central in our work,” a police spokesperson said.

“We are aware of the issue of homelessness, particularly in the Gisborne CBD area, and we continue working to help the community feel and be safe.

“We respond to antisocial behaviour and activity that disrupts or threatens members of the public as and when it occurs.

“Being homeless is not a crime in and of itself, it is a social problem which requires a joint effort to address the underlying issues. Our partner agencies work within this area addressing these issues.

“We all agree that it is an issue which demands attention to work towards positive outcomes for the community. A decreased homeless population and anti-social activity in Tairāwhiti including Gisborne will come from addressing housing, health, and issues with addictions.”