With road cordons on Adams Ave lifted and businesses cleared to reopen, the Bay of Plenty Times spoke to business owners, residents and visitors about the impact of the closure and to gauge the mood on the street.
“It’s the peak of summer, but it feels like winter has started early.”
That’s how Hot Spot Superette owner Saedanwar Rajput describes the impact on his business after his store reopened on Waitangi Day, 15 days after the deadly January 22 Mauao landslide.
Waitangi Day – and the long weekend – were “very quiet”, and so was the following Monday, he said.
Adams Ave is usually a hive of activity in February, but at 9.45am on Monday this week it was eerily quiet as people walked along the street.
Parking spaces along The Mall and Adams Ave – normally impossible to find in summer – sat largely empty, something noted by visitors and shopkeepers.
As this reporter walked the street, speaking to Rajput, other business owners, residents and visitors, the silence felt heavy. Mid-morning, a few more people had wandered by, but most did not appear to be shopping.
Instead, many stood quietly, staring up at the slip‑scarred face of Mauao, partly obscured by a long row of shipping containers installed as protective barriers in case of further landslides.
Rajput said he opened his doors at 7am on Monday, and by 11.45am, he had served just 22 customers — “four times fewer” than a typical Monday in peak season.
“I normally have a queue of people from the campgrounds waiting at the door for me to open.”
He said January and February were usually his “backbone months” for earning enough to carry the business through quieter winter periods.
Before the slip, steady streams of customers from the campgrounds and Mauao walkers kept his shelves regularly turning over.
Rajput estimated a 60 to 70% drop in customers since the landslide and “tens of thousands” of dollars in losses.
“This is the peak of summer, but it feels like winter has started early,” he said.
“I’m really worried about how I’m going to pay my expenses. I have big supplier bills, high rent, a business loan … It’s a painful, tough time for me and for other business owners in this area.”
Rajput said he was grateful for the support of local regulars, a landlord who halved his rent this month, and a milk supplier who replaced spoiled stock at no charge.
His insurance, however, only covered 10% of financial losses because the store itself was undamaged.
He worried about whether his business could recover, but said he was determined to stay open.
“It will take time to heal and fix the problem, but I know how to work hard to get back on my feet. I believe God will help make a way for me to come through these challenges.”
Auckland lawyer Stewart Germann and his wife, Janice, long‑time visitors to Mount Maunganui and to Rajput’s store, said they felt deep sympathy for the Adams Ave shop owners.
“It’s vital local businesses are supported and the cruise ships keep visiting Tauranga.”
Christine and Brad Cullen from Toronto, on their third visit to Tauranga in two years, said they walked from Pāpāmoa on Monday specifically to shop at the Hot Spot Superette and support Rajput.
“What happened is a tragedy, and our thoughts are with all the families who lost loved ones.”
“We felt it was important to do our little bit to support these business owners who must feel like it’s another Covid lockdown with little or no steady income coming in.”
Queenstown visitor Martyn Bryant said the Mount held special meaning for his family.
“I’ve swum in the Mount Hot Pools and walked up Mauao many times. My daughter, Nikkita, turns 18 on Saturday and she first climbed Mauao at age 4.”
After hearing about the tragedy, Bryant said he decided to return and on Monday visited his favourite Turkish kebab shop and Copenhagen Cones in Adams Ave.
“It’s not just the loss of lives that’s horrendous. The business owners are also significantly impacted.”
Copenhagen Cones head manager Shannon Hope said reopening on Waitangi Day felt “thrilling”, but the morning was slow. Before the slip, most of their customers came from the campground or Hot Pools.
“It definitely picked up after lunch, and we even had a small queue. It was great to see people coming back to this end of town. Customers have been especially engaged, checking in on the staff and making intentional trips to support us.
She said the business was now in a “rebuilding” phase, having reduced its hours to 10am to 5pm and trimmed its team from 13 staff to six, some of whom returned to their university studies
“We very much appreciate everyone walking the streets again ... I’m hoping we can all frequent a few different businesses and share the love and support around. Come and support us, big or small. Let’s make this area booming again,” she urged.
Rustica Italian Food pizzeria owner Michele Delaini said he couldn’t reopen until Tuesday this week.
All fresh produce and dough – including extra stock for the Auckland Anniversary Weekend – had to be thrown away.
Fresh dough took three days to prepare, making an earlier reopening impossible.
He estimated stock losses at about $6000, with insurance covering only around 10% for the same reason given to other operators – the business suffered financial loss but no physical damage.
“The full loss of income is harder to calculate, but likely significant,” he said. “Many of our customers come from the campground, Mauao walkers and cruise ship visitors.”
Discussions with the council about financial support were ongoing, Delaini said.
He stressed the importance of residents and tourists knowing the businesses in the area were trading again.
“February is usually our busiest month with all the cruise ships. The Mount is a major driver for tourism, and the long recovery costs can’t fall on the council alone.”
Moana Food Market, which had been open just three days before the landslide, reopened on February 5.
Owners Jay and Sadhna Patel employ three trainee staff.
Jay Patel said business had been busy in those first three days, largely thanks to campground visitors, but had been much slower since reopening.
He declined to discuss losses but confirmed they had applied for help from the Mayoral Relief Fund and were waiting for the outcome.
“We are determined to shoulder on and are grateful to Tauranga City Council for their support and for encouraging more people to come back to the area and support the local businesses.”
Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.