Iwi’s big plans for central city
Hamilton’s biggest central city landowner has revealed bold plans for the business area, anchored by a redevelopment of Centre Place.
Iwi-owned Tainui Group Holdings (TGH), in partnership with Kiwi Property, plans to turn the inner city mall into a mixed-use precinct, with high-rise apartments and multi-storey office blocks.
The remodelling of Centre Place is part of TGH’s 20-30-year vision to reinvigorate the central city and create a ‘‘vibrant heart’’ for Hamilton. TGH is the commercial arm of Waikato-Tainui and manages almost 13 hectares of property across Hamilton’s city centre on behalf of the tribe.
The company’s vision and investment in the central city was about showing leadership, TGH chief executive Chris Joblin said.
‘‘Whilst previously we developed
The Base [shopping centre] and now currently we are developing the Ruakura Superhub, our whenua holdings here in the central city are really strategically important,’’ Joblin said.
‘‘The next piece we really need to turn our attention to is the city centre. For TGH, the first step was the ACC building which will open in the new year. It is 10,000 square metres and that is our shopfront, it is what we aspire the centre of the city to be like.’’
Revitalising Hamilton’s centre has received renewed focus in recent years as the city shrugs off its tag as an outsized provincial town. At the south end of Victoria St, the $76.3 million Waikato Regional Theatre is due to open in 2024 and is already tipped to become one of the region’s showpiece attractions.
Joblin said Hamilton deserved a ‘‘world-class’’ business district befitting the city’s status as the metro hub of Waikato. ‘‘If you look into the future, we need a real heart for the city. We have that now but it could be so much more.’’ Drawing inspiration from Auckland’s Britomart, TGH’s and Kiwi Property’s 25-year vision for Centre Place will see it transformed into a mixed-use precinct featuring multi-storey office space, high-rise apartments, restaurants, a bar and entertainment precinct, and retail shopping.
Last year, TGH and Kiwi Property announced the formation of a 50:50 joint venture over Centre Place North. The Centre Place precinct will connect to the adjacent Hamilton Transport Centre. Long-term, the redevelopment will look to reactivate the underground railway station beneath Centre Place.
The vision for Centre Place had been several years in the making and was informed by international ‘‘mega trends’’, Joblin said.
The high-level master plan does not include any projected spends at this stage. Redevelopment costs will be equally shared between TGH and Kiwi Property.
Centre Place was ideally located to become Hamilton’s primary transit hub, Joblin said, with end-of-trip facilities, parking and charging stations. It would also cater to cyclists, micro-mobility users and car share travellers.
‘‘It is about connecting all the pieces up together.
‘‘If you look at global trends, the heart of a business district needs to be connected up with transport offerings,’’ Joblin said. ‘‘It is important that you build a development so you can take advantage of the transport modes that will come, whether that is an underground railway station or some other form of transport
STRUGGLE FOR A SAFE HOME WAIKATO WEEKEND B1,B2 that is in its infancy.’’ The Centre Place redevelopment will be staged and will start with the construction of office space. Design plans currently include a multi-storey office block on vacant land on the corner of Victoria and Ward streets.
The office space is expected to appeal to organisations relocating to Hamilton and local businesses looking for a quality, central location.
Joblin said Hamilton City Council was supportive of TGH’s vision, especially its plans to accommodate inner-city living.
TGH’s 20-30-year vision for its other central properties would depend on market conditions and the business cases stacking up. It was anticipated the investment would be significant, Joblin said.
‘‘Hamilton is going to grow exponentially and the next 20-50 years is going to be Hamilton and the Waikato region’s moment in the sun.
‘‘And in the central city, it is not just about TGH . . . it is about a whole bunch of people working together to make something that is truly great.’’
Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said TGH’s and Kiwi Property’s vision for Centre Place would help transform the central city into a modern, vibrant centre.
‘‘TGH has already built a lot of outstanding assets in the city. It is a very exciting time . . . the city centre will look so different in another 10 years,’’ Southgate said.