Shop to close after more than 60 years

Gould Photographics is closing down. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

After more than 60 years serving the Rotorua public in one form or another, Gould Photographics is set to close its doors.

The shop on Tutanekai St will shut on October 23.

Managing director and Rotorua Lakes Council mayoral and council candidate Mark Gould said the decision was officially made last week, after months of looking at different business options.

"It was going to happen at some stage. We looked at other options and none of the others were viable," he said.

Mr Gould said he, brother Greg and their mother Chiria had made the decision together.

"We couldn't come up with any other plan. Photos have changed dramatically."

Mr Gould said his 89-year-old mother was "a little bit upset because we are having to close".

However, he described it as a "forced retirement" for her.

Mr Gould said they had seen huge changes in the photographic business over the years, and most recently had been doing a lot of passport photos.

"We went from black and white to coloured slides to prints and then to digital."

The history of the business goes back to 1955 when Mr Gould's father David opened Fotocraft on Eruera St, before moving to Tutanekai St in 1982.

One further move to their current location was made in 2000 when the family owned and operated business needed more space.

When asked what was next for him, Mr Gould said that would depend on the results of the upcoming elections. He is standing for both mayor and re-election as a councillor.