Don't split Manukau

Photo: SHANE WENZLICK

THREATENED: Manukau Central Business Association manager Stewart Heine says splitting Manukau’s central business district along Cavendish Drive and giving the areas to two local boards will damage business.

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Manukau's city centre will be ripped in half by planned supercity ward boundaries and businesses say they fear for their futures if that happens.

The Local Government Commission's boundary proposal splits Manukau's city business area in two along Cavendish Drive.

North of the road comes under the new Otara-Papatoetoe board and south under the Manurewa board.

"Future opportunities are threatened by the new Auckland Council boundaries," Manukau Central Business Association manager Stewart Heine says.

The association has long worked to position the area as a business and educational centre, as well as a shopping destination.

"We want it to provide significant employment and economic opportunities to consumers and investors within at least a 40km radius of the centre."

The area, roughly bounded by Puhinui Rd in the north, State Highway 1 in the east, the new SH20-SH1 Manukau Extension in the south and Plunket Ave in the west, is the political and economic heart of Manukau.

It is home to the city council, the courts, Counties Manukau police, Inland Revenue, Work and Income and ACC.

It also includes the Westfield mall, the super centre, Rainbows End, national car dealers, legal and financial business services, and more than 600 retail and small-to-medium light industrial businesses.

A transport hub linking to Auckland by rail and bus, and campuses for the Manukau Institute of Technology and Auckland University of Technology are being developed.

But Mr Heine says the commission has ignored boundaries that would keep the commercial and urban centres of the new super-
city within local board areas.

Splitting Manukau city centre in two poses a branding and marketing problem for the association.

"Our branding and
marketing strategy focuses on promoting and retaining the name Manukau and its significance to the city centre.

"All the planning and expense has been wasted or ignored for interests other than those of our businesses and property owners," Mr Heine says.

"It will all be lost and absorbed within the local boards of Manurewa and Papatoetoe-Otara."

And naming the area north of Cavendish Drive "Manukau Ward" limits the chance to develop and promote it as Manukau city centre.

In its submission to the commission last December the association urged that the city centre stay as one area, administered by one board.

"A significant sector of the central business area is now funded by a targeted rate and operates as a business improvement district.

"It is important that it is governed by one local board or ward, preferably Manurewa, which has until now provided tremendous support in fostering and championing the economic and educational opportunities planned for the area," Mr Heine says.

He wants the association to be included and consulted in any future planning, and to have involvement in the area's administration and representation.

"We continue to seek opportunities to bring the matter to a favourable conclusion. Hopefully the commission will revisit the naming of the respective wards and amend the boundaries so that Manukau city centre is not split and does not have its commercial viability threatened."

- © Fairfax NZ News