http://www.hotcity.co.nz Heart of the City news all on hotcity.co.nz en-uk Heart of the City paul.f@vendingdirect.co.nz Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/events/?v=l&y=2012&m=02 info@hotcity.co.nz Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/events http://www.hotcity.co.nz/events/?v=l&y=2012&m=02 The in-season collection shows at NZ Fashion Festival feature a range of designers and popular high street retailers and run between 30 - 40 minutes. There will be many free activities around Auckland CBD, including our BIG little City Fashion Day Out on Saturday 3 March. info@hotcity.co.nz Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/events http://www.hotcity.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/66/pi_newsitemid/343 Sunday 19 February 2012 (rain date 26 February)Queen Street, between Wyndham and Customs Streets10am to 4pmPlaying in the Streets is a fun filled event that will close down 300m of Queen Street to cars and open it to pedestrians on Sunday 19 February, 10am to 4pm (rain date Sunday 26 February), which has been proposed to Auckland Council. Aucklanders of all ages can come to Queen Street and have a go at a range of fun activities provided by Auckland sporting and recreational organisations. There'll be footie, cricket, badminton, netball, gymnastics, cycling, zumba, aerobics and more. It's a great opportunity for all the family to have a go, and experts will be on hand with winning tips. A crowd of approximately 1000-3000 people are expected to participate in Playing in the Streets. As the event does not include any vendors, Queen Street shops and eateries will be promoted to the participants. We are working closely with various agencies, including Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and the Waitemata Local Board to ensure this event is managed in a safe and professional manner.Road Closures To manage the traffic during the weekend a professional Traffic Management Company (Action Traffic) will implement a traffic management plan. Road closures are proposed for the following streets: Queen Street (between Wyndham St and Customs Street) 6am - 6pmShortland Street (between Queen Street and High Street) 6am - 6pmFort Street (between Queen Street and Fort Lane) 6am - 6pm Pedestrian access along the footpath and access into businesses will be available at all times. There will be a number of event staff, traffic marshals and security staff on site on the day to assist with pedestrian access, traffic flow and any other activity related to the events. To accommodate the proposed road closures, parking restrictions in Queen Street (between Wyndham St and Customs Street), Shortland Street (between Queen Street and High Street), and Fort Street (between Queen Street and Fort Lane) will be in place from 6am - 6pm. We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to become part of this action packed day. On behalf of the Committee I would like to thank all residents and businesses for their on-going co-operation and support of this event. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience that the restrictions may cause, and offer our thanks for your support and cooperation during this truly magnificent event.Playing in the Streets Team, a Future Auckland Leaders Initiative, sponsored by the Committee for Auckland. Providing FeedbackIf you wish to discuss the proposed event please contact the event organiser, Pam Glaser on 09 377 6190 or Mobile 0274 599 634 or Auckland Council on 301 0101. info@hotcity.co.nz Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/66/pi_newsitemid/343 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/66/pi_newsitemid/341 We are currently looking for a Marketing Communications Executive to join our team. If you have:1 - 2 years marketing experienceStrong copy writing skillsMarketing Communications / PR qualificationsWorking knowledge of social media and web content managementAnd of course...you're creative, sassy and savvy about what is happening in our cityDon't delay, the deadline for applications will be Monday 6 February 2012To learn more about this role, plus to apply click here... info@hotcity.co.nz Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/66/pi_newsitemid/341 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/66/pi_newsitemid/340 Ports of Auckland plans to add the equivalent of 16 Eden Park #1 fields to its container wharves - and most of the new space juts out in to the Waitemata harbour. A publicity campaign titled "Your Port, Your Call" kicks off today (Jan. 26) urging Aucklanders to find out more about the "extraordinary" plans by the port to expand its operations. The port's plans, which are buried in technical documents supporting the Auckland Draft Waterfront Plan, have been graphically represented in the campaign to show the impact they will have on the harbour. The pictures demonstrate how Ports of Auckland wants to grow container wharf space by adding 267,000 sq. m. in area to its wharves - with an associated 400 per cent increase in container traffic. Ports of Auckland has supplied one visual of the proposed expansion for the council's consideration. But the information does nothing to show the extent of the company's intentions a lobby group says. Once the expansion is consented the ability to overturn the consent can be extremely difficult and expensive. A wide range of supporters have set up a Facebook page under the banner "Your Port, Your Call". Click here to view... They are asking New Zealanders to 'like' the page to show their support for closer examination of the port's plans. It's their strongly held view that Aucklanders - and New Zealanders - deserve to know the facts -. it's their port, so it's their call they say. The container wharves are to be consolidated and will extend far out in to the Waitemata Harbour. To compensate the city, Ports of Auckland is offering to sell Aucklanders Captain Cook wharf; provided consent is given for the extension. "This is a joke," says Alex Swney of Heart of the City, "when you can fit 16 or so Captain Cook wharves into the area the port plans to expand on. "We're not opposed to the port increasing its business but we are opposed to the expansion plans as currently proposed. To make matters more complicated, the Auckland Council owns the port company and is also the governing body that must approve the port's plans. "We are simply asking citizens to take notice and ask themselves if this is what they want for their harbour and waterfront," Mr Swney says. Deputy chairman of the Westhaven marina users association, Barry Holton, says he was "shocked" when he learned of the port's plans in late December. "We're completely opposed to the plans. They will significantly narrow the entrance to the harbour and will affect tidal flows and wind patterns. I can't believe we've never seen these plans before; they're conspicuously absent from the waterfront plan and city centre masterplans. They will have a grave effect on the harbour," Mr Holton says. Graeme Scott of the Urban Design Forum said he also viewed the plans with "considerable concern". "I think the port has filled in enough of the harbour already. Where do you draw the line?" The Auckland Council's waterfront plan claims "the port will continue to develop largely on its current footprint". "Perhaps the accent should be on the word 'largely'," Alex Swney says, "because the plans we have uncovered on the port's own website tell a different story. When Council has gone to such extraordinary lengths to produce such comprehensive plans one can only speculate as to why they have not provided the same level of detail around the proposed ports expansion.  "The harbour is a jewel in Auckland's crown - we all know that," Mr Swney says. "It's our playground as well as a commercial pathway. We all share a responsibility to enhance and protect our natural assets and pass them on as best we can to future generations. "While the port's plans are important for the ports and the role they play in our trading success, they also have a wider responsibility that needs to acknowledge what so many Aucklanders hold dear to their hearts - access to the waterfront; recreational use of the harbour; views of the harbour from the city and Parnell and city views from the North Shore. "We cannot allow this unbridled expansion of the port to go ahead without Aucklanders having a say on one of its precious assets. "All YPYC asks is that council act as much for the port as it does as trustees and good guardians of our city. Council should be demanding of the port a wider range of options that protect the commercial viability of our port while also restricting this grotesque expansion into one of the world's most beautiful city harbours. "We would like an independent review that explores the range of options available for ports efficiency in the North Island," Mr Swney says. Public submissions on the draft Auckland waterfront plan closed on 31 October however the council is due to consider the plan in February with a final vote in late March. To find out more and to have your say about the Ports of Auckland plans go to www.facebook.com/yourportyourcall and 'Like' the page, leave a comment, read more about the plans and see the video. info@hotcity.co.nz Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/66/pi_newsitemid/340 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/66/pi_newsitemid/339 The December Marketview CBD Retail Expenditure Report is now available for downloading, which saw spending and transactions in Auckland's CBD up in the December Quarter from the same time last year. There was a pleasing result for the Central City versus the same time in 2010, and against other competitor areas. Highlights include: Spending was up 3.9% and transactions were up 4.4% against the same quarter the prior year. This can be comparedto the competitor landscape, where for the same quarter spending was up 1.1% and transactions down -0.2% Spend for the month of Dec was +1.9% (v competitor total +0.8%) Categories that had the best performance for HOTC were Food retailing +5.4% v competitors -1.3% Dept Stores +4.2% v competitors +3.9% Clothing & Soft Good Retailing +8.6% v competitors +2.0% &Furniture, Houseware & Appliance retail +25.3% v competitor 1.9% Pubs, Taverns, Bars, Cafes & Restaurants +22.8% v competitors +0.5% To download a summary of the December CBD Consumer Retail Expenditure Report click here...For more information on the full reports, please contact us via (09) 379 8000 or via email info@hotcity.co.nz info@hotcity.co.nz Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/66/pi_newsitemid/339 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/66/pi_newsitemid/214 Find out about the latest events in Auckland City. Places to shop, dine, drink and stay. The best events, attractions, live music, stores, markets, festivals, hotels and more! To find out more click here... info@hotcity.co.nz Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.hotcity.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/66/pi_newsitemid/214