Quiet streets booming in CHB
The quiet streets of Waipawa and Waipukurau had a declining population three years ago — but not any more.
During the last few years, there’s been a 300 per cent increase in the value of building work completed — $7.138 million to $28.774m.
Everyone knows each other in the tight-knit rural community of Central Hawke’s Bay.
Shop owners greet customers like old friends, farmers chat in the streets, not noticing the increasing traffic nor the people now lining the small streets. If anything, the community is embracing the new growth.
Driving down Bibby St in Waipawa you can still see sheep scattered in small rectangular paddocks surrounded by town houses.
It’s the same on Racecourse Rd in Waipukurau, as sheep sit in the shade of the gum trees, completely unfazed by the sound of hammers, saws and builders’ banter as new homes continue to pop up around them.
In March last year Project Thrive was launched, where more than 270 people engaged in conversations with over 3500 pieces of feedback gathered across the community, which has established a new vision and future for community.
CHB Mayor Alex Walker said there had been a 180 per cent increase in issued building consents during the past three years, from 118 to 341.
The housing growth is unlikely to slow down anytime soon as the region is expecting up to 1025 new households in the next 30 years — 535 are expected within the next 10 years.
“I think it’s just great,” Mayor Walker said.
“I have confidence in this district and it’s great that other residents are getting that too.
“Residents are really positive and they love seeing the energy and they also like seeing the vibrancy . . . as it’s not just one type of person that’s coming here.”
Mayor Walker said people had moved from as far as overseas to own their own piece of paradise in CHB. Others had come from Auckland, Wellington, Napier and Havelock North.
“It’s older people, younger people, families — just a really neat mixture of people.”
Small town community and lifestyle seem to be the big attraction for those migrating to the heart of Hawke’s Bay.
“With that comes great affordable housing and in turn a wonderful lifestyle. Distance doesn’t seem to be the barrier for many people.”
Many people commute to Hastings and Napier. Some even commute to Wellington.
“These days cellphones and social media really are the backbone of businesses so that makes things a lot easier for people too,” Walker said.
While a positive statistic, low unemployment is an increasing challenge for Central Hawke’s Bay.
With the lowest unemployment rate in the Hawke’s Bay Region and the rate also lower than the national average, it requires a unique approach to ensure there is sufficient labour force in CHB for businesses to prosper.
CHB residential properties have increased an average increase of 55 per cent in the latest QV values released, the third highest in New Zealand.