Editorial: Electric area hits the spot

Eat Streat

The Eat Streat concept was a great one long before the first piece of timber for the revamped look went up.

It won't have escaped your notice that the nature of Rotorua's CBD has been changing over time.

With the introduction of the mall adjacent to what used to be called the Travel Centre end of Tutanekai St, the focus shifted south, away from the lake end of the main street.

But something else was happening there.

It was becoming a dining precinct.

There are, and always have been, eating establishments scattered throughout the city and suburbs. Every street in the CBD can boast restaurants.

Last month we reported on the Rotorua Cuisine Co-operative, a group of restaurant and cafe owners from outside the Eat Streat precinct who felt the council's focus on the one area was unfair.

"The council has poured millions into a project that benefits about a dozen businesses," said a group spokesman.

The group is now working with the council on a way forward.

One of the great things about dining out in Rotorua is the huge choice available - far more than most provincial cities.

We should be grateful for this and make sure to try as many options as our budgets allow.

But Eat Streat does deserve a little special attention.

It's not just about what's good for the businesses, it's also about what's good for their customers - you, me, other locals and millions of visitors.

The Eat Streat atmosphere is electric - even with continuing building work - and it's a mood that couldn't easily be recreated anywhere else.

Sitting outdoors among hundreds of other diners and revellers, amid the hubbub (and the odd inconsiderate smoker), with live music and a gorgeous view of the lake - it's a kind of magic.