City views wanted from visitors and locals

Published: 17 October 2024

Napier is off to a strong start this cruise ship season with the first ship ‘Diamond Princess’ in port last Saturday boosting the central business district. The school holiday finale and a vibrant ‘Kids in the City’ activation also helped give local retail and hospitality a welcome lift. With 80 more cruise ship visits from this weekend through to May 2025, Napier is set for a thriving period, promising continued growth for its retail and hospitality sectors. Pedestrian counts for October show 326,887 pedestrian movements so far, a 22.5% increase on the same time last year.

Napier City Council and Napier City Business Inc are looking at how visitors and residents spend time – and money - in the City.

Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise says Napier is a strong proposition as a visitor destination and also wants to ensure it’s a place locals are proud of and can enjoy.

“We are actively seeking people’s opinions on our central business district because many of the measures we use to judge what’s going on here are showing really positive signs. People’s voices are another important tool though in thinking about what we can do better, differently or more of,” explains Mayor Wise.

Councillor Sally Crown sits on the board of Napier City Business Inc and believes Napier is gaining momentum with new businesses moving in. By December, up to 700 more people will be working in Napier's CBD, contributing to the city's growing workforce.

“In spite of a tough economic climate, Napier continues to be a developing and thriving business hub, with new retail and hospitality offerings opening. New businesses see Napier as a prime location for growth, and efforts are underway to enhance the overall experience for both residents and visitors,” says Councillor Crown. “Tourists add value, but the core focus is on locals, as they are the foundation of our community and our economy. Locals are the main contributor to making Napier the vibrant place it is, cruise ships are the icing on the cake.”

Occupancy rates in the central city are improving with some key buildings growing their occupancy rates upwards of 70%. In key shopping precincts there are very few shops for lease and new businesses are moving in. Two new hospitality offerings are set to open in the next month: Goldie’s in the CBD and Mixd in Ahuriri.

Mayor Kirsten Wise says social connection and community celebration have always been an integral part of the Napier offering.

“Events are a great way to attract visitors and to give our own community a boost and a reason to get their family and friends to spend a weekend in Napier,” says Mayor Wise.

“Throughout summer there’re lots of reasons to visit including a free concert at the Soundshell featuring When the Cat’s Away, New Year’s Eve, which is always a blast, and of course Art Deco Festival in February.”

To help improve the experience of locals and visitors in the City, Napier City Council and Napier City Business Inc are seeking the public’s views on what is going well in the City and what could be improved. The purpose of the survey is for Napier City Council and Napier City Business Inc to make sure they are doing everything they can to enhance the experience of being in Napier’s central business district. People can share their views through the survey here.

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