Major changes for Rotorua Central Mall

Rotorua's Central Mall is to get a $10 million upgrade with new retail stores and commercial buildings to be completed in time for the Rugby World Cup.
Pukeroa Oruawhata Holdings , the mall's owners, has announced plans for new developments and the refurbishment of existing facilities in the mall it says will add extra jobs and a better range of commercial and retail opportunities for Rotorua residents.
Preliminary site works have already started for the building of a new two-level building on Amohau St which will accommodate retail and commercial premises. The available space has already been leased.
Pukeroa Oruawhata Holdings chairman Malcolm Short said March would see the start of a substantial refurbishment of the existing food court and the addition of a roof covering the area between the Victoria St carpark and The Warehouse.
Mr Short said the company began planning the upgrade about 18 months ago.
"We have a programme in place that will see the new building on Amohau St completed in September and the refurbishment to the food court and other areas will commence in March with a plan in place for completion in August in time for the start of the Rugby World Cup.
"There are also expectations of building a further two new buildings on Amohau St to accommodate new retailer and tenant demand. The overall development cost will be in the order of $10 million," he said.
However, developers were staying tight-lipped about who the new shops would be leased to, but at least one current tenant would be relocating to a new part of the mall.
Mr Short did say new retailers had expressed an interest in coming to Rotorua "... in all forms of retail size and merchandise, together with existing retailers who want larger premises and are to be relocated on the site. Existing retailers in the food court also wish to remodel their premises in keeping with the overall retail refurbishment."
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Roger Gordon said the chamber supported any proposal catering for quality retail and commercial opportunities in Rotorua.
"The effect of the $10 million project to the Rotorua economy will be a welcome injection in jobs and trade supplies during this post-recessionary recovery period. Over the past year Rotorua has seen considerable investment in new fashion stores and outlets ... this will be an opportunity for new fashion retailers ... it could be a positive move to better position Rotorua as a fashion retail centre and influence residents from spending their dollars in Bay Fair at the Mount and the Base in Hamilton."
However, Mr Gordon said Rotorua's central business district was already too big for a city of its size.
"There is a high vacancy rate of retail and commercial space in the city. Will this cause further drift of retailers from the High St shopping areas of the central business district into Rotorua Central creating even further vacancies in the city, already at a very high level?," he asked.
Batchelors Photo Centre Rotorua owner Trevor Kearney said the development would be good for the city and his business, located at the carpark end of Rotorua Central.
"I've got other shops in other malls ... right now Rotorua has half a mall and to have it completed will certainly boost sales."
Mr Kearney said the mall was a social centre as well as a shopping destination and he hoped developers would keep that in mind.
"The new shops will add to the complex ... and with the mall enclosed it will no longer be the wind tunnel it currently is."
Mr Kearney said he expected a bright future for Rotorua retailers.