Kaiapoi CBD Open for Business

More and more Kaiapoi retailers are opening for business as the town begins to recover from the damaging earthquake of September 4. Amongst the many problems facing retailers is a lack of customers.

Waimakariri Mayor Ron Keating says the best way for the town to get back on its feet is for the residents of Kaiapoi and the wider community to support retailers that are now trading.

“There is still a long way to go and not all shops are open, but many are – they need your support,” he says.

Kaiapoi Promotion Association (KPA) Coordinator Angie Kerry says times are tough for many Kaiapoi businesses. “We just want to get the message out there that Kaiapoi is open and many businesses are up and running. The town centre is integral to our town; if we can bring people back into the centre it will have flow on effects that will benefit the whole community,” she says.

With shoppers back in the town centre, it also means a sense of normality can return after the upheaval of recent days.

While 22 commercial buildings in the centre business district have been assessed as unsafe, others are opening their doors to trade.

Blackwells Department Store was one of the hardest hit by the earthquake, but is one of many businesses finding alternative ways to trade. It is opening a furnishings centre out of lock-up premises at the Shell Shop in Ohoka Road and also plans to shortly open a retail arm at the corner of Hilton and Williams Street. Like other retailers, this family business is not going away and is determined to be a part of Kaiapoi’s recovery

“In spite of the disruption to normal trading, we’re nearly back to business as usual and encourage people to come and support us and other businesses,” says Co-Director Andrew Blackwell.

Enterprise North Canterbury (ENC) and KPA are working with the Waimakariri District Council on economic recovery, so as to be able to support affected businesses.

Heather Warwick, Manager of ENC, says the CBD of Kaiapoi has been particularly hard it by the earthquake. “ENC and KPA are collaborating to support affected businesses by providing information and guidance at this time.”

Ron Keating says the council and government agencies will continue to support affected residents through the Recovery Assistance Centre (RAC) at the Kaiapoi Community Centre, which opens at 24 Sewell Street on Monday. It will be open Monday-Friday, 9am – 4:30pm.

The Welfare Centre at the Kaiapoi Rugby Football Clubrooms will continue to operate through this coming weekend.

For the first week the Recovery Assistance Centre will also operate as a one-stop shop for general wellbeing support and assistance from key organisations including; WINZ, Housing New Zealand and Inland Revenue.

ENDS

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