Editorial: City needs refocus

Kelly Makiha believes Rotorua's CBD needs a good spruce up. Photo / Supplied.

I had an objective look at the central city and City Focus the other day for the first time.

When you're used to something, you tend to think all is okay but with a fresh set of eyes, I didn't like what I saw in the heart of our city.

Don't get me wrong, I think Rotorua is amazing. But the City Focus is dated and needs to change.

I say change instead of go as I'm a strong believer the City Focus should remain - it just needs a damn good spruce up, even a total makeover.

The orange (or terracotta, if you prefer) is old hat, there's moss and mould growing on the rocks, the cobbles look dirty (they're not, they're just old) and the Maori carvings are cracked and need a fresh coat of paint.

I remember when my parents came to visit about 12 years ago, I took them to the City Focus because I was so proud of it. I remember pointing out how all the streets were beautifully cobbled and colour co-ordinated.

The concept of a City Focus is great as long as the riff-raff stay away. It's wonderful when music is blaring from there or special events are held. They all help bring people into the CBD.

The inaugural Scrub Rotorua Day this Saturday couldn't come at a better time to kick start this inner-city makeover. The Heart of the City project team is behind the day, which will see business owners and locals get out their cleaning gear and take to the run-down shop frontages in the Hinemoa and Tutanekai Sts area.

Organiser Mike Steiner is a wee gem who is driving this idea and it was great to see him putting his money where his mouth is yesterday. As I drove into work, there he was outside his shop on Pukuatua St, Steiners - Interiors By Reputation, with a waterblaster.