1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: So we're focusing on the town center. We're working with 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: property owners and the businesses to understand how Ashburton's market 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: is changing and leverage the opportunities that are out there. 4 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: We all across New Zealand, we work around the world. 5 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: This is one of the nicest town centers. 6 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 2: Well, but you say that to all the areas you visit. 7 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: Not at all, Honestly, you know, having the right canvas 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: to work with is so damn important here and there 9 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: are so many town centers that wish they would have 10 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: done something like this, and we need to earn that 11 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: visitation and that spend. People don't want to come to 12 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: older environments, they want contemporary environments. So yes, it's now 13 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 1: down to the businesses. We need to be thinking strategically 14 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: about the types of businesses that are going to work 15 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: well here. We need to be thinking strategically about how 16 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: we attract these successive audiences in understanding, you know, what 17 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: drives success. So I guess from our point of view, 18 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: you know, we were able to be objective with this. 19 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: We're able to bring some ideas that we've seen working 20 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: well elsewhere here and overseas, but with the flavor that's 21 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: going to work well. 22 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: Here in Ashburton, there's a romance with brick and mortar. 23 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 2: We love this idea of people coming into the center 24 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 2: of town and there's a buzz and you walk into 25 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 2: the store and you see a familiar face and you 26 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 2: can talk about how the kids are getting on at school, 27 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: and that business is probably the one that's putting up 28 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 2: the Raffle Prize that the Rugby fundraiser tonight. Are we 29 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 2: living in a bygone era though, Chris, when we can't 30 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 2: deny the realities of online shopping and convenience. 31 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: Looks so true. But the reality is our markets changing 32 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: so much. Our cities are more about experience now, so 33 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: our town centers particularly. You know, we've got a large 34 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: audience here in Ashburton, so creating those experiences that people 35 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: want to be part of. So here we again we 36 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: talked about having the right kind of canvas to work with. 37 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: The foundations are all there. You could almost say that 38 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: we're at third base. We just need to get to 39 00:01:58,040 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: that fourth base. 40 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: Sheesh, buy me a drink and something to eat first, Chris. 41 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,279 Speaker 2: It's very forward of you. How are we sitting compared 42 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 2: to the rest of the country. Everybody likes to compare 43 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,799 Speaker 2: you know, two similar centers. How are we doing? 44 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, not bad but also not good too. And 45 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: I think what's what we do have a challenge with 46 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: here is we've got a lot of escape spend, right, 47 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: what do you mean by that? Well, the reality is 48 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 1: that when people are traveling, if they're if they're heading, 49 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 1: we're not too far away from some of these other centers. Now, 50 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: in fact, those other centers are sort of creeping closer 51 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: to Ashburton. But you don't need to do that big 52 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: spend when you head to christ Church, you know. And 53 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: I think again, what we want people to do at 54 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: the end of this is to take a good, hard 55 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 1: look back at Ashburton and go, well, I was going 56 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: to spend that when I'm on my next trip, but 57 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: I won't. I'm going to spend it locally. Or why 58 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: don't we just do an alphabet every week for the 59 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: different restaurants that are in town with our friends, you know, 60 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: let's just rediscoverable we've got here as opposed to save 61 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: up our and spend it elsewhere. 62 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 2: We're fighting an uphill battle that's happened since the dawn 63 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: of time. Ashptonian's on the weekend shooting up to christ 64 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 2: Church seeing the rallies and't at the same time all 65 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 2: I'm going to go and do a bit of shopping 66 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 2: and the big mauls and whatnot. The novelty of. 67 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 1: It, and it's only going to intensify, you know, with 68 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: the likes of Roliston. You know, where is Costco going 69 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: to go in the South Island? 70 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 2: It's Costco coming. Well what do you know that we don't? 71 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: I don't know anything, Luke, but this. 72 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: Is Costco going into the Ellington shopping Center the Guardian 73 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: and mooting that there's something big coming here. Have you 74 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: got the scoop for us? 75 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: I think the reality is there has been some land, 76 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: there is some land being developed up there for mega retail, 77 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: and if Costco does come to this area, yes, it's 78 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: likely to be in those types of areas where there 79 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: is that scale and those connections rating connections. 80 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 2: So is it sort of appreciating lock, I mean that 81 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 2: is sort of what it is. We've really, more than 82 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 2: ever got to give people a reason to shop local totally, Luke. 83 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: And that's that really come down to experience now, because 84 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: we've seen a big shift in spending. If we look 85 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: at market view over the last decade, maybe just even 86 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: over a decade, that shift from people buying stuff to experiences. 87 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 1: That's where the shift is happening. All we need to 88 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 1: do is make sure those experiences are drawing people on 89 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: a regular and habitual basis. When we've got the experiences right, 90 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: then retail comes with us. And look, and I think 91 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: we need to stand back too, because you know, we're 92 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: often too close to the solution here in any town 93 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: we work and people often take things for granted. You know, 94 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 1: we've had We've had the privilege of meeting a lot 95 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: of different business owners who've got some fantastic stories and 96 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: the things that they're doing in their businesses are quite amazing. 97 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 1: You know, if I was living in Ashburt and I'd 98 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: feel pretty proud of But also that's a theme that 99 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: we've had coming through. People do feel proud of the 100 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: town and they want to support it. But sometimes it 101 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: does take that standing back and thinking how can I 102 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: put more of my priority into the town center in 103 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: terms of spending. 104 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 2: You may have heard we got a new bridge coming. Yes, Oh, 105 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 2: I can't wait for that. It'll be a game changer. 106 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 2: It's been a long time in the works. There's been 107 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: a bit of rhetoric though, Chris, how this could potentially 108 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 2: draw people away from the CBD. What's your take. 109 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: We've we've worked in a number of different areas where 110 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: bypasses have come through recently. Our most recent project was 111 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: Utucky north of Levin, where was. 112 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 2: To drive through that completely. 113 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: But go the stores. You go there and you've got 114 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: some great hospitalities that's developing. A lot of new residential 115 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: developments are happening because of the bypass. So yeah, look, 116 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: you can look at it in two different ways. Cambridge 117 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 1: is another area we've worked in which has been bypassed 118 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: and it really has enriched the town. But to be honest, 119 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: you know, I think connectivity is the key thing here. 120 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: Improving connectivity makes a massive difference, and that's one of 121 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 1: the things that's really driving a success in christ Church 122 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 1: right now. You're able to get to destinations much quicker 123 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 1: because of the road network. Similarly, in the Company Coast, 124 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: which has just completely transformed that from kind of a 125 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: sleepy hollow to a place that is attracting a lot 126 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: of young people, kind of an aspirational area. Part of 127 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: connectivity is number one one thing We've got to crack though, 128 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:27,919 Speaker 1: Luke and This is something we found in every place 129 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: we work is parking. Okay, it's that P word because 130 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: you talked about parking outside every We can't keep thinking 131 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: this way where the reality is are parking in but 132 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: I'm not walking? Walk? 133 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 2: You just drive from Harvey Norman to Minor teen christ 134 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: I know you. 135 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: Do, We saw you. Yeah, So honestly, we once we 136 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,479 Speaker 1: can get through this will be absolutely fined. There is 137 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: parking here. We might not just get that park straight outside. 138 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: Another question for you, the big box stores, the Noel Lemings, 139 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 2: the k Mars, the warehouse Are they the bad guys? 140 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: Not at all. These are the chore and staple businesses 141 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: that you're going to go to, right. You're going there 142 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: for a function, You're there on a mission, You're getting stuff. 143 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: The difference between the town center, you know, we talked 144 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: about that chore as opposed to experience. 145 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 2: Right. 146 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: We just have to make sure that there's enough money 147 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: in those experiences to make it worthwhile for you. 148 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, because you often again get the rhetoric of 149 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 2: h they're taking money out of the town. 150 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. Look, big boxes is happening everywhere. We're lucky here. 151 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: We don't have the same as in Timoru where it 152 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: is very very distant from the town center, and you 153 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: see what's happened in Timrou's town center, so you know 154 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: they didn't move quick enough to be able to shore 155 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: up the town center when that big development happened. There 156 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: are plenty of other places we've worked and where out 157 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: of town is developing and creating the very distinct different destinations. 158 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: Here it's within reach. We even walked almost walked to 159 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: one of the big boxes yesterday until we were advised 160 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: by a local that you don't walk between the town 161 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: center and the big. 162 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 2: Box now you drive. I could have told you that 163 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 2: we might try it today though, But you know, a 164 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: lot of that is investment in a town, right and 165 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 2: it lives the place. So I mean, that's a pretty 166 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 2: snazzy complex that came art slash totally River Terrace. 167 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: And the reality is if we didn't have it here, 168 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: people will be going elsewhere. And look at all the 169 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: people Timory that are coming up to go to kmart 170 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: splash the cash in Ashburton because they don't have that there, right. 171 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: So that and we also know that people are coming 172 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: from other areas because sometimes it's just a bit too 173 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: tricky to get into christ Church or some of those 174 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,319 Speaker 1: surrounding suburbs that the traffic and all those again convenience 175 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: that Ashburton can deliver, So we then need to earn 176 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: those customers. So then say, right, we've got and got 177 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: what we needed. Let's go and have a bear or 178 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 1: a coffee in town. Let's take the kids to the library. 179 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: Let's going to enjoy some of the amenities that are here. 180 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: So again it's about being able to be out there 181 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: telling the story of the town center really really well 182 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: and earning that spending and goodwill. 183 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 2: So we're too from here. You having plenty of great 184 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 2: conversations this week. What do we do with all this? 185 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, So the plan is we're going to pull it 186 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: all together. We're going to get those key themes which 187 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: are already starting to come through, and then we're going 188 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:35,439 Speaker 1: to go and share it back with those stakeholders. So 189 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: we're going to say this is what you told us, 190 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: are we on the right track? And then very soon 191 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: afterwards we'll put together a report which will be something 192 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 1: essentially that's been co created with stakeholders and it will 193 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: be down then to be able to get that working. 194 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: We've got a great team here at Ashburton District Council 195 00:09:54,760 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: who are going to help enable that work. It will 196 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: be a plan that is able to be achieved within 197 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 1: what's happening right now. You know, we're not talking about 198 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: spending money. This is all about looking for what's happening 199 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: organically and how that we can use some strategy to 200 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: pull that together strategically. 201 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 2: Chris welcomes and fab to see you again. Mate. Enjoy 202 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 2: your time. I'm sure you will, and don't let anybody 203 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 2: else tell you otherwise. The weather's always like this.