One Mahurangi – European inspiration

We’ve made it through a couple of challenging years with lockdowns, endless rain and a barrage of gloomy news, but here we are, at the start of a brand-new year. So, what does 2024 hold for you? Well, it seems like we’ve finally bid farewell to the perpetual rain, with the sun shining bright. Tourists are flocking to our little slice of paradise and, hopefully, they’re leaving a bit of their holiday cash in our town.

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend two months overseas in Europe, soaking in the sights and sounds of countries like the UK, France, Germany and the Czech Republic. While there, I made it a point to chat with local retailers and, interestingly, their experiences weren’t all that different from ours.

Many mentioned how the lead-up to Christmas was bustling but quieter than usual, with folks tightening their purse strings. And post-Christmas, business tapered off even more than in previous years. Of course, winter brings its own lull, but 2023/24 seemed particularly subdued.

However, one thing that really struck me was the festive spirit radiating from every corner. It was truly magical to see streets adorned with twinkling Christmas lights, transforming even the smallest villages into enchanting wonderlands. While I understand that replicating this in Warkworth during our summer Christmas might be a bit of a challenge due to the late dusk, just imagine the spectacle if every shop and business in town lit up for the Winter Festival – pure magic!

During my travels, I also visited several Christmas markets and, again, duplicating them here might be a stretch, but I believe we can create our own unique charm. How about organising some night markets right in the heart of Warkworth? Picture this: closing off the main street, lining it with tables from our local cafes and restaurants, adding some live music, a few select stalls, and voila! A vibrant, buzzing hub that draws in the crowds.

I am looking forward to what lies ahead. One Mahurangi has workshops and networking events lined up and, as always, we’ll be championing the community’s interests with Auckland Council and government, ensuring that your voices are heard loud and clear in all infrastructure planning discussions.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead – I again look forward to working with you all to ensure our local, business community goes from strength to strength. As we have always said, we are Stronger Together.