Giving iconic holiday destination Whitianga a long-awaited upgrade was a community effort and a shared success, writes Boffa Miskell’s Kathleen Kinney.

Whitianga is one of the Coromandel Peninsula’s main tourist hubs; but outside of the hectic summer months, with a permanent population of just over 5000, it retains its character as a sleepy beach town.

Founded back in the 1830s as a shipping port for timber and kauri gum, over the last century-and-a-half Whitianga’s development waxed and waned with changes in the economy and the seasons, resulting in an ad hoc mix of colonial and contemporary buildings existing side-by-side. The influx of holiday-makers and summer residents creates a bustling atmosphere during the warm weather, but the sidewalk space and public realm amenities fall short of what is needed.

“Planning and research for a comprehensive town centre upgrade began in 2011,” says Mayor Sandra Goudie. “Residents and shoppers were surveyed, and iwi and community stakeholders consulted; but this initiative was put on hold the following year as other projects took financial precedence.”

In 2015 when below-ground infrastructure needing renewing, the local government realised an opportunity to resurrect the project.

Scope and budget were redefined, with $4.7million set aside to upgrade Albert Street — the main retail thoroughfare — through Taylor’s Mistake along The Esplanade to Whitianga Wharf. The work was to be done in two stages, with both stages to be completed before the nationwide commemoration of 250 years since Captain Cook’s arrival in New Zealand in October 2019. Mercury Bay (Whitianga) is one of the four main landing sites along Cook’s journey and will receive nationwide attention during the commemorations.

Stage One works began in April 2018 and involved upgrading underground infrastructure — including water, wastewater, power lines and provision for ultra-fast broadband — along the main stretch of Albert St. The decision was made early on to future-proof the works as much as possible. This included the choice to use segmental concrete pavers rather than poured concrete. This allows individual pavers to be lifted for maintenance works, then re-laid without leaving permanent cut marks or requiring new concrete to be poured.

“The above-ground design brief for the Albert Street upgrade was to create mixed-use space allowing for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, and improving accessibility for all,” says project manager Bryan Sanson, a landscape architect at Boffa Miskell’s Tauranga office.

“More al-fresco style dining space would made available to cafés and restaurants, which meant some sections of footpath would be widened from 3-4 metres to 10 metres, requiring the removal of 59 car parks from the main street. This reconfiguration would require buy in from, iwi, the local community and businesses, and residents who traditionally parked in the main street for shopping and socialising,” he explains.

The design is based on themes of navigation and sailing, as a nod to the regions rich history with Capt. James Cook and the great Polynesian explorer, Kupe. Design features reflected the nautical theme in a simple and timeless way and the street elements and furniture use a palette of Corten steel and Tonka hardwood, both materials used regularly in marine environments.

The navigation theme was subtly introduced using long sightlines, changes in angles and materials, and placement of features, all enabling the users to take ‘bearings’ to reach their destinations. These features include the installation of carvings, artwork and pouwhenua (all which are still in the process of being created by local artists).

Due to the regions serene coastal setting, almost all plants selected for the upgrade were native species appropriate to the area and site.