Mount Maunganui retailers see summer recovery

Mount Business Association general manager Jay Banner said weekend traffic has strengthened as the weather warms, while midweek foot traffic remains softer. The group’s latest spending data showed July revenue down 2.9% from a year earlier, an improvement on April’s near 20% decline, with January-to-August spending still down 11.6%.

The January 22 landslide killed six holidaymakers and forced closures of key attractions including Mount Hot Pools and Mauao walking tracks, hammering businesses that rely on walkers and day-trippers. Banner said some accommodation operators saw a steep fall in bookings after the closure, but interest has picked up as visitors realise “Mount Maunganui is open.”

The association, which represents 280 businesses along Maunganui Rd, said the broader area has been hit, with some long-standing businesses closing and vacancy rates rising. Its monitoring report said trading conditions became “extremely difficult” in the first months after the tragedy, with some firms reporting revenue falls of up to 25%.

There are early signs of stabilisation. The old cinema building has been sold and new tenants are moving in, including clothing stores and a luxury yacht broker. The association has also stepped up community events such as Yoga in the Park and a school holiday scavenger hunt, backed by $65,000 in emergency and mayoral funding.

For investors and landlords, the key question is whether the summer tourist season restores enough demand to support retail rents, occupancy and hospitality margins. The near-term catalyst is foot traffic through the peak holiday period, alongside the timing of any partial reopening of repaired Mauao tracks and the unresolved future of the hot pools and campground.