Another business falls to Auckland's changing identity

Auckland CBD’s booming public and private investment is stripping the city of local hospitality and community values, said the manager of another recently closed business.

No. 1 Queen Street Cafe and Bar may not be an Auckland staple like the recently closed Kings Arm or The Golden Dawn were, but its self-titled ‘Steadier of the Ship,’ James Wakefield, said its closure is indicative of the city “definitely losing some culture.”

Mr Wakefield said the local bar was the last business standing of the Queen Elizabeth Square retailers, and has found itself a casualty of redevelopment in downtown Auckland.

With rising rents, tight regulations on noise levels, and the introduction of up-market franchise stores to the area, Mr Wakefield said landlords were not taking the opportunity to build a community and were forgetting local businesses.

“Often the little guys get overlooked in favour of safer chains. Auckland needs to keep its independent owner-operated cafes, restaurants, bars and retail,” said Mr Wakefield who believes it is hard to add value to the community with offsite management.

The values of manaakitanga and kaitiatanga he had installed into his business were also becoming less relevant.

“Manaakitanga […] really boils down to respecting the mana of the people. We wanted to create a place that was like a mate’s place, service that was unpretentious, familiar, friendly and fun,” said Mr Wakefield.

Others did not support that however, with some people moving near venues “then trying to change them [with] too much sway with council,” said Mr Wakefield.

But Viv Beck, the chief executive of Heart of the City business association, said she doesn’t believe the city is losing its independent culture, noting it is still the home of the likes of Smith and Cougheys, and Farmers.

“There has been change, but equally if you look there are still a lot of local independent businesses, some small and some big,” said Ms Beck.

Ms Beck said the changes in the CBD’s identity were related to a growing population of people living and working in the centre city as well as increased “public and private investment.”

She did admit however, that “with growth and change, there are some things that are challenging [like] demand outstripping supply for space, that is having an impact on things like rent.”

Mik Smellie of Splice, an initiative to connect more inner-city people, said businesses have a role to support residents wishing to be involved in a community.

For this to happen, Mr Smellie said each sector of the community needs to come together to make decisions and recognise each other’s needs.

Mr Wakefield said he hopes No. 1 Queen St is remembered for empowering anyone who walked through its doors to feel like they had some ownership of the place and their needs respected.