New Zealand’s ABANDONED CITY

How did this happen?

[@claire3gen710]

You're shocked? We who live in beautiful Tauranga are equally shocked. Tauranga used to be a thriving city centre, but thanks to council enforcement of parking meters and reduced parking it has contributed to people shopping elsewhere. It's also extremely difficult for workers in the city centre to find parking, although we have parking buildings the cost is prohibitive for many to use, so they park miles from work and walk. Council is trying to make it a night-life centre, hence all the food places. They really have 'missed the boat'.

[@mohork]

You saved me the trouble of explaining it.

[@sleepinggiant5161]

Exactly, missed it completely, why go to central Tauranga when you can get free parking at Bayfair, Papamoa, Mount, Tauriko and Bethlehem?

[@GypsyGirl317]

You are so right. It used to be an incredible CBD to visit and the shopping was fantastic! 😍 I'm sorry for the people who live and work there. ❤️🌿🙆🏻‍♀️

[@keithomelvena2354]

Tauranga isn't unique in having a dying town centre. Box developments and internet trading have killed small physical retail and that fact won't change, regardless of all the ratepayer money and hopium thrown at it

[@mrpachino6014]

the Tauranga council is same as others in NZ...working for the criminals at the World Economic Forum communists

[@stimpykiwi]

I've lived in Tauranga literally my whole life. The council has slowly destroyed the city centre. Paying for parking made people stay away, they have had multiple iterations of parking meters that have gotten worse and worse, and now there are so few of them, you have to walk 50 meters to pay for parking, and you WILL get a ticket for staying over the time limit as they seem to employ a lot of parking wardens. They have totally destroyed small businesses on the start of Cameron road, there is a dairy, cafe, laundromat, and hair dresser that have not a single parking spot, totally killing their businesses, it's a discrace. Cameron road a a total abortion, they have removed viral lanes causing massive congestion, them say they want to bring in congestion tax for congestion they have caused.

[@Dickgoodbody]

Wow, that's crazy! ..time to get a new Mayor for Tauranga, one that gives a damn!

[@Hastenforthedawm]

Yeah parking here is notorious and the buses are even worse. I have a car but it doesn't make much of a difference if you're going to the CBD

[@rodcollins2978]

Well said had the same thought about congestion tax, should get a rebate for congestion caused by council

[@petuia8081]

Cameron road is an absolute circus. If this is the way to reduce vehicles on the roads, it’s not working.

[@alfnoakes392]

And a 174 place Car-Park has just been closed (on the Strand) to make way for grass (and a pile of boulders). As part of a $84 million dollar prettification project.

[@tahirua123]

Thanks for this. I'm here in Tauranga and my Mrs says the same thing every time we go to town. Unelected local officials destroying the city.

[@tahirua123]

Oh and damn such a great tour around there with street art. Hope someone showed you the route. Station 83 was terrible glad to see they're going at least. I went last week to try get Bobby's and they were shut doh. Hope you had better luck.

[@TheEncouragementKid]

so sad dude

[@merhaba8]

The place was a ghost town well before they sacked the council. They didn’t sack the council on a whim.

[@alfnoakes392]

The 'Unelected Officials' had to be brought in by Wellington because successive Tauranga Councils had been more about ridiculous combatitive factions than about getting anything done. All the current projects (ie why all the damn traffic cones are Everywhere) have been in-the-pipeline/ on-hold for years ... the pipeline replacement up Cameron Road should have been done about 20 years ago. And the cycle-ways being built up Cameron Road were clearly planned about 20 years ago (to then European practice) because the design pre-dates the advent of Electric Bikes and is thus already obsolete. I have lived in Tauranga about 20 years.

[@alfnoakes392]

The recent changes to Citizenship Laws in Oz (it is possible to get citizenship after a few years) have caused some people to pop over the ditch, true.@@hakopapaea2422

[@Harry-fc5qd]

I was born in Tauranga. It was once an awesome place, but the place has been turned into the largest retirement home in the country. It's CBD is a dessert ed dump. We have a non existent counci, which has also contributed the place being deserted. !!!

[@justinsingh221]

This is what happened to me in 2013 living in Tauranga kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3rMeaSabMmkh8k

[@andrew.l.5493]

The reason it might be seen as a ghost town is most likely because the council in their wisdom decided to install parking meters. That's what happens when you get towns that are managed by morons.

[@davidstevenson9517]

The morons are those that will NOT take a cheap, safe, convenient bus. Look in the mirror (and I DON'T mean rear-view).

[@ihavenolifeandiclearlyneedhelp]

​@@davidstevenson9517yeah everyone really wants to pay even more money and spend even more time (and walk to and from the inconveniently placed bus stops) to sit and get thrown around without a seatbelt on a dusty ass seat that smells like piss farts sweat and vapes

[@alfnoakes392]

The parking-meter spaces are pretty much always full, so the meters do not do too much to discourage visitors. The proliferation of alternative shopping centres with reasonable parking is what keeps many folk shopping elsewhere. As has been mentioned, the empty shops are mainly ones that are no longer earthquake-safe (same everywhere).

[@bobdillon1138]

I guess it came down to parking meters or raise your rates so which would you prefer.

[@jamesc3953]

@@davidstevenson9517 Why would anyone want to hang out next to loud kids with boom boxes, and end up at a depot where kids are fighting instead of driving their own car? Public transport is great over seas, but sucks badly in NZ, may I remind you of te huias constant break downs or the fact that the busses are often late by 15mins plus.

[@richardmiller7887]

Council gave their employees electric bikes paid for by the ratepayers whilst reintroducing parking charges for the rest of us. The Council office is in the centre with own free car parking. That is the place to look if you want to understand why Tauranga is a failing city. Massive potential destroyed by an incompetent Council.

[@kamalnz]

youre a legend for documenting all of NZ keep it up fams!

[@duncanyourmate2433]

I used to live in Lower Hutt years ago , spent a few , new years in Chilton St James swimming pool , (Waterloo road) went to the catholic facists across the road

[@PS-Straya_M8]

Lol always cracks me up how British people call the ground the floor! 😂

[@PaulG.x]

Me too. You can't get any more urbanised than when you start applying building structure descriptions to the natural world

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

As a Kiwi living in the UK for 20 years, it still gets me, even a lawn can be called the floor, something I'll never get on board with.

[@moochymooo]

My darling late hubby was English, had come over at 17, been in nz 50 yrs & still called the ground the floor 😂😂 He called seats in cars chairs😂😂. And once said to me 'don't be daft' - just the once mind! Lol'

[@MrZexyy]

The world didn’t lay those bricks or mosaics, it’s the floor! 😂

[@alfnoakes392]

Born in Britain, but never heard that, maybe it is a Southern UK thing.

[@kerrymathers7439]

Downtown Tauranga is suffering from "Road cone madness" because of poor planning by the local govt. Most of the buildings that are empty are a result of "NZ Earthquake Building Codes" and it was easier to demolish and build a new building than to rebuild the old building up to code. Local people avoid this area like the plague because there is limited parking and the place is only boutiques, bars and eateries. There is over 30 decent shopping centres scattered all over Tauranga so why would you cram into downtown [risking parking fines etc] when you can go to a major shopping centre on the outskirts or just 200 metres from the beach at "The Mount" The local govt needs a way to attract people back to the centre ,not scare them away

[@lauriejones3198]

Good obsevations Kerry. Born there 1960, now living in Oz, I could not believe how desolate and dead town was, back in March this year. Retail is gone. Take care.

[@kerrymathers7439]

@@lauriejones3198 Did you live at Hilltop Road by any chance ??? If so we , went to school together. Tauranga is not desolate ,but just the opposite. So people avoid the downtown area. It is packed on Friday and Saturday nights at all the bars and eateries. The retailers and property owners get totally screwed over on property taxes , based on retail values. The local govt needs to get rid of all parking meters etc to encourage the public back into the area. The loss of parking revenue would be offset by increased property values [and appropriate taxes] Places like downtown Mt Maunganui, Papamoa, Bethlehem, Bayfair etc etc are thriving

[@lauriejones3198]

@@kerrymathers7439 yes mate, that's me. Moved to Aus in 1989. Mum ended up near Bayfair, and you are right, it was busy there. But downtown tga was almost spooky. I was busing it to Auckland airport a few times, back and forth in the last 12 months, and was stunned at seeing homeless people in town. They had security also. Melbourne is similar. A lot of restaurants closed during lockdowns and never came back. Melb city retail also cut back, still today. Crazy times mate. I hope you are doing ok.

[@kerrymathers7439]

@@lauriejones3198 Yes I'm doing great! Next time you're back in Tauranga look me up. And we can get together and swap "war stories" etc [I'm easy to find]

[@bm4751]

It's not poor planning, but no planming or worse, agenda planning, so that it's purposefully doesn't work but sucks up every single piece of budget, forcing even bigger loans to be taken, and of course spiralling rates, with eventual council defaults and everyone loses their properties to the banks. Agenda 2030 anyone!!!

[@Lynda8746]

Tauranga is my home town. When I left there 5 years ago there were empty buildings in the CBD and it was home to the homeless. The then Council said in 5 yrs time it will be buzzing - Farmers building, apartments, Polytech all bringing people in to the city. Now I watch your video and - nothing to see here. Even more empty shops and nothing like the Council envisaged. Sad to see this, Tauranga used to have a wonderful busy CBD.

[@DerrickWindsor]

What I can't understand is: if the place has gone so bad with all the bureaucracy/Council madness, why don't the people just kick all these bureaucrats out and go back to being a decent place to live in!????

[@gruntabro1]

Bro the central city was the place to go it was busy foot traffic everywhere…. Then the stupid City Council killed it by taking away car parks and then giving the big tick to developers to build big shopping malls out in the suburbs ie BayFare / The Crossing / Papamoa etc , no one goes into the city is just a pain in the arse it’s sad really

[@boatymcboatface666]

The BS that is Cameron Rd, road works aside, is a disgrace! The widening of footpath "cycle" lanes, have destroyed over 30 small businesses! The removal of carparks, in and around these businesses, is a disgrace! 🤬

[@kesterbradwell9871]

I'm a Kiwi and I am shocked. Not surprisingly, councils are doing this all over the country. Look at the debacle in Auckland'

[@chrisroger4416]

the result of war against cars by WEF

[@lesleystanton-d4l]

Lived in Tauranga for 16 years, and have seen a dramatic decline. Yes it's pretty, and the shoreline is gorgeous. But the Council here have made it almost impossible through their lack of foresight and inherent greed, for people to shop, eat and work here. It's in the too hard/too expensive basket for most people. Rents are ridiculously high for businesses, and they are no longer getting the foot traffic they once did. Latest thing is - the council are taking away 147 car parking spaces from the Strand - We avoid going into Tauranga now, and will always choose the out of town shopping precincts with free parking and great choice of shops to spend our hard earned money - Very sad really!

[@D.Cooper420]

From the outside, government corruption in NZ seems like a conspiracy theory but the longer you stay here, the more you'll realise this is exactly why these small towns have collapsed.

[@rjh6037]

You aren’t wrong. The evil of NZ Government knows no bounds. This is true of both sides, although the rot set in at light speed under The Witch of Blackrock, aka Ardern.

[@JasonNZ42]

We're still here... most of us go to nearby malls or shopping centers so we don't get screwed by the roadworks and parking fees!

[@simonzidaine8350]

20 years ago this place was beaming with activity with a city in all its glory... I dont know if people have opted for the outskirts or there is no more motivation to be downtown, council failure is key here...

[@cheetaih]

Same in Auckland.

[@chrisroger4416]

went there and drove around for 30 min looking for a park even a paid park and found nothing therein lies the problem

[@darrenford8988]

What an outstanding job these four Unelected Commission chair Anne Tolley, along with fellow commissioners Stephen Selwood, Shadrach Rolleston and Bill Wasley, were given the council’s governance responsibilities. According to the council’s remuneration figures, Tolley was paid $358,200 for 200 days work between February 2021 and February 2022. Selwood earned $261,000 for 174 days, Rolleston worked 174.5 days and was paid $261,750 and Wasley earned $275,250 for 183.5 days work. And this is what you end up with....

[@gumbooter5562]

Problem with the CBD is access. There is an exisiting rail network but only allowed to use for freight trains, not passenger. The mind boggles at local and district council failure here.

[@treacythompson8777]

Actually when you consider what they want to build on the strand you can tell what is really happening! Go look it up!

[@inzana2]

Take some urban sprawl. Add a heap of parking minimums. A dash of strip mall and add large serving of big box retail. Finish with a sprinkle of lifestyle blocks. You now have the s-hole above, traffic jams, unaffordable rates and economic disaster. This is the story of urban development in New Zealand.

[@espaciofantazma901]

You talk to anyone, even foreigners. They'll all say that Tauranga sucks. It seems like the council is purposely trying to destroy this city. A super greedy council with the planning skills of a 2 year old. Breaking everything they touch and demanding an arm and a leg for their service.

[@kaptainkruft2731]

I grew up in Tauranga in the 80s and 90s. Was a great place to grow up. The downtown you walked through was constantly busy - anytime we wanted anything other than groceries we'd head downtown to find and get. Shortly after I left in 95, it changed massively and hasn't been the same since. I visited in 2000 and it was already a different place. More visits in the intervening decades has always just been more of the same, the downtown slowly strangled to death via an inability to access and more attractive alternatives. Heading there soon (though, more the mount) and I expect to be sad for the city again.

[@justinsingh221]

This is what happened to me in 2013 living in Tauranga kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3rMeaSabMmkh8k

[@thochaos13]

Down town Tauranga just keeps getting worse. It's nothing compared to what it once was.

[@chris101gray3]

Not unlike most towns in New Zealand. Main streets packed with Dollar saves, Takeaway shops, hairdressers....rinse and repeat. So little of interest on offer. The real kicker is the sheer audacity that parking is metered and costs you to stop and park. They call arcades "malls" and you'll find most people in the supermarkets wandering about in their pyjamas in the middle of the day. For a completely feral NZ experience, you should sample Levin. Lol

[@regnorse]

lol ikr

[@lschmidt2405]

Anyone noticed that no NZ political party or council is FIT FOR PURPOSE these days? NZ short of houses? Transform Tauranga shops?

[@chrisroger4416]

its wef policy

[@heatherjohnson3387]

Streets were rather empty too. All those restaurants you passed were empty both inside and out (no customers), hardly any pedestrians on those beautiful paths and roads as you walked around too. No one on the beach front. Ghost town is an accurate description sadly.

[@coffebug]

Sadly there are many New Zealand cities or towns that are full of empty shops. Our main Street has quite a few empty shops some of which have been built and never used.

[@fairynuff167]

Blame 3yrs v roadworks. Navigating the city centre is a nightmare.

[@russellmurphy3678]

So you are now mentioned in NZ newspaper reports (11/11/2023 STUFF NZ) = " KZbinr and TikToker, Curls, a Brit who vlogs about places he visits, said the amount of empty buildings in Tauranga was distressing, and it made him feel sad."

[@darrelllingman63]

Employment opportunities are quite sparse, increasingly casualised workforce, agency work mainly.More a holiday town than a permanent home base.

[@chrisroger4416]

@chrisroger4416 0 seconds ago went there and drove around for 30 min looking for a park even a paid park and found nothing therein lies the problem

[@harrycurrie9664]

Tauranga was, and still is, a much liked retirement City but unfortunately run by a Council who seem to see it as something different. They need to bring back street parking, older people who were the mainstay of the daytime business district cannot walk miles from parking to do their shopping.

[@brendasoares4442]

They are trying to bring in 15 minute cities where ,cars are no longer needed so don't need the parking

[@Hastenforthedawm]

​@@brendasoares4442 aka graveyard cities. Worst idea ever

[@alanb9337]

A big failure of the Tauranga CBD in recent years was the 'Harington Street Public Carpark and Transport Hub' construction project. After $19 million had been spent on the budgeted $29 million dollar project flaws were noted by construction workers. Work halted and the site could not be remedied, it was going to cost $9million to demolish the flawed building, the Council sold the site/ uncompleted building to a contractor for $1. The end result is 550 planned inner city car parking spaces have never eventuated and a central sheltered location for local bus passenger to depart from and arrive at does not exist. My own opinion after C-19, people who can afford their own vehicle & parking are still reluctant to travel on public transport such as buses unless there is no other option. Everytime I have travelled on a bus in Tauranga in recent years it is common to have at least one or more people with a cough or sneeze etc. Cameron Road's big dig started in April 2021 and the workers are still going. Cameron Road water pipes were around a 100 or more years old before their present ongoing replacement. In years ahead Tauranga is likely to be increasingly surveilled society, it is easy to imagine a CCTV camera on every street light etc, multiple cameras at traffic intersections etc. There was free on street parking in cbd Tauranga from mid-2020 to December, 2022. The free parking did help the central city a bit. The Commissioners' vanity project 'The Civic Precinct' has an initial cost of $306million dollars.

[@timjrvine]

What an absolute dogs breakfast that sounds like

[@tonymadden9021]

Retail is going through a major transformation. The internet, pandemic and demographic change that has decimated Main Street retail. Not just in Tauranga, but worldwide

[@chrisroger4416]

went there and drove around for 30 min looking for a park even a paid park and found nothing therein lies the problem

[@RichSmithson]

As a kiwi I would have to say the biggest problem facing this country now are the politicians and the unelected goons that surround them.

[@kiwishitloard2568]

I grew up in rural towns in New Zealand I was told that empty shops was the first sign of a shrinking economy, this nothing new in this country it’s been going on for years.

[@AJ_Johnson.]

That’s not necessarily true. Online retail has killed off a lot of physical retail. Chain stores kill off smaller independent businesses - like what we’re seeing with chemist warehouse. Most people bank online so banks are closing etc etc

[@chrisroger4416]

went there and drove around for 30 min looking for a park even a paid park and found nothing therein lies the problem@@AJ_Johnson.

[@gissyb1]

I go to Tauranga alot... I've never gone to the city centre once in 20yrs! We head to the malls..

[@carefulconsumer8682]

This could be part of the problem: "The Tauranga City is the most expensive district within the Bay of Plenty Region, with properties reaching a median price of $875,000 in September 2023."

[@MorneKotze-y4l]

Went there for a 2 day visit from Northland a few months back. Saw the pictures, looked AMAZING! But walked exactly where you were by the pub, and saw a bunch of teenagers dressed up like gangsters, literally bullying and teasing a homeless man, and taking pictures of it while they were doing it. I sat down at the pub with family from overseas, and that same group of 14yo's walked around kicking bins, business signs and just generally being taunting towards anyone looking their way. 1st time in my life that I was uncomfortable with my surroundings in NZ. Needless to say my family too. I phoned the cops as many around me did and they showed up 80min later when these degenerates left. I cancelled my BnB and went on to Rotorua. I cant be asked to go visit Tauranga again. Sad really. Was expecting so much more from this picturesque town.

[@JupiterSaturn69]

Strategically avoids showing the growing homeless problem in NZ from 7:56

[@studyboynz]

A bit sad seeing all those empty shops

[@DivineVegan]

They've all moved to Invercargill

[@carltwidle9046]

I haven't been to Tauranga for years. I think it was back in the mid 1970s. I can remember the heat. It was Summer In those days i wore flared denims and my hair was long. I remember being all sweaty. Tauranga is a nice place.

[@keithhopkins9225]

Curl’s you’re the best ambassador for New Zealand tourism, thank you!

[@spadgm]

Lol his vids actually remind me why I left.

[@regnorse]

lol ikr@@spadgm

[@Mattmac-yc7qs]

To be honest I’ve been living here for the past 7 years and over time the city life has just died. don’t get me wrong I love the city and it’s beauty but it’s changed so much since I moved here in 2016

[@perrindabrowski824]

After leaving Tauranga years ago, it’s crazy that going back yearly or so that the city street has been empty and for lease every time!

[@charliebrown9643]

Tauranga....already had its day of 'potential'...It's gone, and will not return....!!! Due to a greedy, Tauranga Council, businesses have, and are continuing to leave the City centre. Tauranga now, gearing up...to becoming a "15 minute city". Agenda 2030 in full force.😢

[@ellisbroadhead1589]

I’ve been in NZ 3 weeks now, went from Auckland down to Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo and now Wellington. It does remain my favourite place I’ve visited but if I was looking to settle down to work, Auckland or Wellington for sure. Tauranga is cool but doesn’t have that permanent attraction feel to it.

[@janicehyde3914]

There is plenty of people , just not in town. They are at the malls, Bayfair, The lakes, Bethlehem or down town the mount!

[@hillaryclinton7091]

Thanks for reminding me why I should not pop in for a visit to the city.

[@barrygiddey9139]

Great video mate-Always look forward to the adventures you go on-it’s great what you do showing the places around NZ-Thanks again-can’t wait for the next instalment mate 🌏oh I’d love on done on Thames 👍Thanks 👀

[@1929G-y5t]

Thanks for uploading this. I haven't been to Tauranga in years, nice to see it again

[@charmees6637]

Hi Curls I used to love Tauranga I’m so sad to see the empty shops too. Council you stuffed up big time

[@funnystuff9998]

I'm from Mt Manganui. I left the Tauranga area 23 years ago. When I go back, I wonder what happened to a good city and can only believe that the local council ruined the place through their idiotic Town planning. And just how many years has the roadworks been blocking up Cameron Road? The place just sucks.

[@philrobbie1670]

i currently have badly bruised ribs thanks to the roadworks on cameron rd

[@cdawg8034]

I hate Cameron road

[@KMVNZ23]

Yeah. It's sad. It's beautiful city. But politics ruin NZ at a fast rate. 😢

[@RobNotANumber]

My mum moved there in 2011 and the place was alive and amazing... she moved out in 2021 and by then the place had lost all it's charm. It had a great photography store... gone.. I'd move there but as you indicated many places so empty now.Bobby's is still the best ever... and there is a real issue with parking.Buses in Tauranga make the need for a car really important but the council has,like auckland, made it cost prohibitive for many. Unlike Auckland, Tauranga just doesnt have economies of scale. Added to that Tauriko shopping mall etc and the central part of town is like a ghost town now

[@mollypowell1124]

Tauranga still has a great photography store, Carters, in Grey Street!

[@neildown5647]

Cool bro, strolling round Tauranga reading out names of businesses. That's some top notch travel blogging, you're the man bro 😂😂

[@neowollic]

such a depressing place to live 😭 hoping to move away soon

[@Hastenforthedawm]

Same

[@scottgresham6759]

I've always had a soft spot for Tauranga. It has the resources and connections to be a great city, even from an international standpoint. My Mrs urged us to go and live there, and we did...for a season. We couldn't find good jobs, we were in our 30s and doing the types of 'struggle street' jobs you do in your 20s. Parking in the city was an overwhelming challenge. Don't get me wrong, Tauranga's a beautiful city, Mt Maunganui beach and restaurants to the east, waterfalls in the south, kiwifruit and avocado orchards to the north (& south), native bush all around. I still long for Tauranga's charms, but life is too hard there, and we couldn't really fit in, in the end.

[@guildakriletich]

Tauranga has outpriced itself because of outrageous council demands and restrictions. Its a shame because it is beautiful but you are right about the mosaics and footwalks, very nice, alot of potential just need to ditch the council

[@donbrashsux]

What is happening to NZ .. I really wonder 🤔

[@funtimesatbeaverfalls]

Deluded liberals running the place into the ground.

[@jamesmoore6424]

So tauranga and the mount, although there is a reasonable population the area is built on tourism now. With the pandemic and no cruise ships, many businesses suffered.😢 Kiwis will do our best to build it up again, we need people like you selling the country. Love your work!

[@theo847sqn]

Er top tip Instead of getting ripped For your favourite condiments Buy small bottles from your local supermarket Keep them in a sandwich bag (Sealed) Try not to get too hot I always have my favourite sauce and it costs around 5c a go

[@Andrew_kiwi_AF]

This place used to be busy 24-7, I guess inner city shopping and working is gone of the past

[@michaelmarama-de4gx]

It was the best between 2000-2014 turned into ghost town since

[@cheetaih]

@@michaelmarama-de4gx What ashame. Some parts of Auckland Downtown also quite spooky as many businesses moved to suburbs.

[@michaelmarama-de4gx]

@@cheetaih Yes I have seen downtown Auckland, the Council is to blame for hiking the lease and rental costs. It's called greed and selfishness

[@Andrew_kiwi_AF]

@@michaelmarama-de4gx I lived there 2001 - 2004 and I agree the early 2000’s was where it was cranking

[@Andrew_kiwi_AF]

@@cheetaih I live in Auckland now, the last time I went to the city I was blowen away by the amount of empty shops. Due to Covid and no one coming in plus everyone working from home there simply wasn’t any people in the city spending money to keep stores alive :( it’s getting busier again thou

[@Heccy1961]

The shop rents are so high its near impossible for retail shops to stay long. We dont have the same foot traffic that the UK does for volume of sales for retailers to have a chance survive long term.

[@cydu]

Its basically nz as a whole. Everyone moving to Australia. During COVID government gave away too many free money, which caused everything to double maybe tripple in price, but our income still same

[@slamtilt01]

I was in Tauranga a few months back and noticed all the empty shops in the downtown area where he is. It's pretty sad for sure and it's also affecting the foot traffic too I reckon. Therefore I can see even more empty shops in the near future. There was also a ton of construction work going on as well in the whole of BOP too. Lots of road works along and around Cameron road area out to Judea. I heard from locals that during lockdown people wouldn't head into town but would just shop where they lived. I assume that is or was the impetus for the empty shops. But in saying that the Bayview plaza shopping mall in Mount Maunganui was dead also. So I am thinking that the cost of living crisis is really biting in. Meaning that Temu has probably done well in this town lately.

[@MrKurns]

Do you mean bayfair?

[@GypsyGirl317]

The council has made parking impossible, which is the biggest problem there.

[@teevis3620]

Temu... yup, shopping like a Billionare here and l don't have to pay ridiculous petrol or.parking prices to get stuff that you have to pay a left leg and right arm for.🤣 My sunglasses cost a quarter of the price the $2 shops sell them for and they're a hella darn cooler. Seriously, people are always telling me they're cool and want to know where l got them from

[@altbinhax]

Some of those empty premises looked like bank branch closures; it's happening all over. It's about online (only) and digital, shame on the banks, and governments for allowing this to happen. Face to face banking builds relationships, and access to cash is critical - Optus outage is a lesson.

[@anniebland6450]

... and the price's of rent is way too expensive as well. The empty shops might have a lot to do with that, including the inability to park anywhere to go shopping. Maybe the Council could see its way clear to free shuttles to the inner city or something. @@GypsyGirl317

[@spadgm]

I've been living in Aussie for 5 years now, and just about everyone that I know that has been back to Nz for a visit, plus people that still live there say the country has gone downhill in a massive way.

[@PeterParker-st9ps]

What has changed in New Zealand? Australia is a great country because we voted NO, so we will keep our high standard of living that you guys don't have.

[@meerkat783]

Ardern’s Labour Government put NZ back 40 years - shame on them and good riddance they’ve gone.

[@ryancarper595]

​@@PeterParker-st9ps New Zealand would be a great country - but because they didnt get the chance to vote no nor even yes, they've been forced to pay the maori billions through bs land claims to the rich maori-elite/parasites for decades. Now those parasites are trying to claim for things the rest of the world would laugh them out of the country for, water air and coastline. The country is broken - and its broken - because of the greedy natives who think theyre owed a living for nothing - the insufferable maori.

[@hanswielders8527]

That's bull shit NZ is just fine don't believe all the crap you hear! if we had 20-30 million people like Aussie we would have better infrastructure and what ever as well that's just the way it is. ( seems a lot of the folk living over seas wanted to come home during COV19 though wonder why???)

[@millymurray9324]

@@PeterParker-st9ps you voted NO to what exactly in OZ?

[@davidarundel6187]

Tauranga , isn't the only town or city in NZ, with empty shops , j and offices that are empty and going to waste . Wellington , both Lower & Upper Hutt , and up the coast as far as Waikanae , there's empty shops and increasing graffiti . You're fortunate you didn't meet some of the panhandlers-grifters on the streets of the twins you've visited . I hope you're enjoying your visits to NZ's cities .

[@Persian-Immortal]

Yes, agree! include Otaki too!

[@jackl4739]

Economy is recession and still going down …..

[@rodnrach]

Waikanae is held ransom by a building owner who won't rent out space though. It's been a long standing problem. Why they own them no knew knows.

[@Persian-Immortal]

@rodnrach It's sad, Otaki has space vacant for years as well. Building owners live in Auckland. there are Millionaires. Those lice get tax write-off. It is profitable for them to keep shops vacant.

[@regnorse]

and i hear the prisons are all packed to the rafters?? what happened to NZ??

[@nzlemming]

What day were you there? A weekday? 15:04 "Wednesday to Friday" - seems so. And what time? Obviously not a meal time. But that is one empty place. Also, stayed in Tauranga in the mid70s, and I never had the inclination to go back. Also, you glossed over the person sleeping on a bench at 15:04 - if you're going to put the place to the test, you have to report the results. One of the things to remember is that Tauranga is known as a conservative retirement city - it's not a bustling place, however much it wants to be. Those closed shops are the result of actual performance not meeting the ambitious business plan that said "if we build it, they will come".

[@MaTtRoSiTy]

I lived in Tauranga, it always had issues with having an elderly retired population but very few jobs... it was known as $10 an hour Tauranga (very low pay by NZ standards). I left there over a decade ago but the rot was already showing and it is a shame as it is a really nice coastal town

[@MaTtRoSiTy]

Lol yeah exactly @@bb-sky

[@brianwheeldon4643]

They question to ask is why so many empty shops... the answer is likely endlessly hiked leases, a feature of NZ legislation, we are a country of landlords, corporate landlords. The overriding reason though is capitalism. It's eating itself. And so many private cars and very little inadequate public transport. It's not only Tauranga, check out Auckland, it's the same in the central city. Choked with private cars in rush hour and vast underinvestment in public transport and infrastructure post WW2. We've followed the US model of town planning and endless tarmac and car-parks (what a waste of space and planet killing ugly infrastructure), unfortunately. A country that didn't follow the US is Holland. The difference with life in the inner cities in the Netherlands and New Zealand is chalk and cheese. Their inner cities are busy as with pedestrians and cyclists and small scale human sized shops, homes, and brilliant public transport, a great mix. Cheers and thanks for the walk-around. Keep up the good work and opening our eyes to the reality.

[@folksy8337]

Great videography, I appreciate a steady hand behind the camera. You nailed it in terms of our biggest issue - the empty town centre. Hopefully once the construction/renovations lesson it’ll become more accessible. Same problem as our beach though - lack of parking.

[@daniell8331]

I lived in Papamoa for years I used to hate having to go to town. I'd avoid it if I could.

[@dabadllama]

I saw the thumbnail and knew it was my home town Tauranga straight away. Haha. Town has been dead for a long long time now. But Bayfair mall at the mount and Tauriko shopping centre in Tauriko just near Pyes Pa in Tauranga are the main shopping places. There was a huge amount of construction over the past years (farmers building, the uni/polytechnic building) in Tauranga that shut off part of town which only made the situation worse. The only part of town still kind of active is the strand restaurants and bars at night it seems. It is sad to see but has been getting worse and worse for about 10 years now.

[@kat_n_Rob_Touring_NZ]

Try driving around Tauranga, it is crazy packed. And what day were you there... Early and on a week day I'm guessing

[@dabadllama]

@@kat_n_Rob_Touring_NZ I grew up there but moved to Christchurch 4 years ago. I was last up in January. Going up again in December. 😊

[@cheetaih]

You don't know the magnitude of construction at Auckland Downtown.

[@37hpm]

The Strand : bussiness only Friday/Saturday evenings ! The MOUNT is the place to go !

[@brigidaodonnell7053]

I don’t know if you realise this but in New Zealand many people have decided to keep on working from home as it is better to do this than go out to work and pay exorbitant prices for your fuel

[@shoutatthesky]

Many people??? You do realise that only a small fraction of jobs can be done from home? If you ask me if a job can be done at home on your computer it's probably not a necessary job and it's definitely not real work.

[@karloftinker2832]

Most people don't work from home. Only those that work from home think that, I have found.

[@theStickyWicket]

15 years ago Tauranga had a cool surfy vibe and massive investment from wealthy retirees moving from Auckland. But what else should you expect when the economy gets shut down because someone got the sniffles.

[@alanberry8239]

I travel all of NZ regularly. Tauranga is the only place where I feel unsafe to walk at night. So many gang members peddling their drugs. Police drive around ignoring them. Why would you open retail in an area with all that going on.

[@kiwigirljacks]

Most people go to the malls and shopping centres on the outskirts of Tauranga… The Crossing is great.

[@OopsieCube]

Empty?? WHAT HAPPENED??!! I live in Perth (Aus) right now and haven't been back to NZ for the past 5 years... WOW

[@kevinbalfour1728]

Successive Councils and unelected Commissioners have totally fucked up the place by removing carparks and putting in cycle lanes all patrolled by overzealous Parking Nazis.

[@benorsman9654]

Never seen so many “To Lease” signs. Sad really.

[@Melodic076]

The Baby Factory - Where Everyone Gets a Baby (Parody of The Warehouse NZ slogan)

[@godannz06]

That was me in the carpark at the start mate was bit starstruck would have offered you a joint, I'm so sorry for ruining your Mahi 🤣 I'm as local as you can get. Tauranga Moana thanks you much love brother! Best wishes 👍🏽

[@anitagoodman4657]

wow you pronounce Te Reo better than a lot of kiwis that have been in NZ their whole lives, Thank-you for the respect you've shown our native language.

[@DGYSAM]

If its anything like Rotorua there are so many empty buildings due to overseas investors. The overseas investors up the rent and leases to make money but no one can actually afford the rent so they close down, move out and the storefront stays empty. Its heartbreaking.

[@Peye-pv4cb]

Also if the rent goes up, some now just sell online

[@jackl4739]

Economy is recession, many shops closed ….

[@regnorse]

so why dont property prices fall?@@jackl4739

[@catharinabellekom2013]

The council is making sure that the roadworks done in this area is taking a very long time when in fact it should be finished a while ago. This is what is called a conspiracy. Tauranga is a great place, I live there.

[@devriestown]

The government had to step in because the corruption of the tauranga city council.

[@PaulG.x]

3:06 Fun fact: Hardley Ableson owners put those stupid uncomfortable handle bars on their pieces of crap so that the pain the position induces distracts them from the diabolically bad handling those things exhibit

[@SterlingGateBooks]

Welcome to NZ's first 15-minute City.

[@rocket78able]

Was in Napier recently, still a healthy down town vibe there. No suburb shopping malls would be the reason for that.

[@bierstick]

You connected the dots in the last few minutes of this clip. Yes, $3.10 for a little pottle of sauce. Tauranga experienced surging growth in the early - mid 2000 - 2010s. Anticipation of a new large urban centre in the BOP, based on tech growth etc., was somewhat optimistic and ahead of itself. It’s either close your doors or pass on the cost of improvements the city council has made on your behalf, to your customers.

[@NatMG]

lmaoo I remember going to tauranga and entering the picadilly arcade and found a knife store!!? I was so confused and concerned to be honest, clearly they aren't there anymore though lol, the cafe inside of there is nice though

[@gemmalee3032]

the mayor and city council has to step up tourism activities to get people to come .

[@princessdejanay2418]

Result of closing down everything for too long. The sheep panic big time and paying the price.

[@ivymeganmedicinewoman]

I am so pleased to hear you pronounce Tauranga correctly! Many NZers don't even pronounce Tauranga correctly! Well done ❤

[@4evaavfc]

It makes me think of Hamilton, Hastings and other NZ towns.

[@Hastenforthedawm]

The strangest thing is that during covid of all things, after the library was torn down they have a temporary food and hangout section which made Tauranga center lively for a few months. Despite so much roadworks, renovations and massive building projects in ye CBD the place only ends up getting more and more desolate

[@mikejones-go8vz]

Yes, the container village had music, nice eateries and bars, gelato shop, why did they close it 🤔

[@lliamjurdom9505]

Beautiful pronunciation thank you !!!

[@Umberlee69]

That jewellers in the arcade made my bespoke engagement ring many years ago, sad to hear that it’s closing

[@2l8mate59]

Tauranga is an example of bad planning from roads to the crictical infrastructure needed to support businesses such as parking, etc...Add in bumper to bumper traffic because too many people are reliant on driving their own vehicle. Public transport is not a preferred method of travel for most who live there. Try travelling from Omokoroa into Tauranga every morning. Absolutely mental. Im not even sure forcing people on to public transport would solve that traffic/roading problem. Its a mini Auckland, roading/infrastructure problems 20 years behind the times.

[@duncan-mcrae]

I live here. The city is a dump. There is nothing in the heart of the city that makes me want to come in. We have satelitte malls that basically have everything you need. You would honestly need to remove the rail-line, move restaurants onto the waters edge, and then push the main street back from those. My understanding: The issue here is nothing is up to the earthquake standard and the owners can't afford to fix, so they increase rents.

[@sycamore1955]

I have a friend with a building in Red Square...is it still called that? The building is very old and they can't afford to upgrade it and don't want to sell it so it has been empty for years.

[@jefflarson7180]

what the hell happened to my hometown?! im born and bred in Tauranga, lived there right up until i was 25 but left for Aussie 10 years ago. back in the mid 2000s the strand (waterfront) and elizabeth street use to be packed! the nightlife was awesome with bars and nightclubs that were open until 3am like The Grumpy Mole, Coyotes, Bahama Hut, De Bier Haus, Harringtons, Crazy Jacks, Buddha Lounge, Beach street........i believe there is like only 1 nightclub there now. It seems a lot of businesses have opted to move to the shopping malls around the outskirts of the city that are more accessible. Bethlehem, Papamoa, The Lakes, Bayfair etc