Generations of progress
Published on 07 February 2025
Recently I was talking to a long-term resident of Whangārei, Reva Meredith, who used to own 'Reva's on the Waterfront', one of Whangārei's most popular eateries.
She reminded me that this year would be the 30th anniversary of the Town Basin / waterfront development. Reva remembers opening the doors to her new restaurant on 30 September 1995.
Since then, we have completed the:
- Hātea Loop
- Whangārei Art Museum
- Hundertwasser Art Centre
- Pūtahi Park
- Heritage and Sculpture Trail
- Canopy Bridge
- the redevelopment of Pohe Island
- Pocket Park
- Clock Museum
- Rolling Ball Clock
- Te Matau a Pohe bridge
- Hīhīaua Cultural Centre
- and so much more.
Many of these have received international accolades, and the Town Basin / waterfront area has become one of the jewels in Whangārei’s crown.
This didn’t happen overnight.
Various councils, elected officials, Hapū, business operators, tourism operators, volunteer groups and communities have all played a part in bringing this vision to life.
Now we have two generations that have grown up without knowing what the Whangārei waterfront used to look like – the sawmill, the old A&P Showgrounds, the fishing trawlers, the highly industrial area it used to be.
This waterfront success story began with the roading redesign and development of the Town Basin 30 years ago. It is a testament to what we can achieve when we plan for the long term and work together, and yes, sometimes good things take time.
I am constantly reminded of the huge potential our region holds. The question is, how can we unlock it? How can we get the most out of what our region has to offer, in a way that will be resilient to our growth, while protecting what makes our place so special?
The answer is simple: through working together, and planning for the long term. When we work together as a region, we can achieve far more than we could individually. We attract more investment, create more jobs, improve infrastructure, education, and healthcare, and build a more resilient economy.
Regional collaboration allows us to get the best value out of our assets, such as our stunning waterfront, thriving arts scene and strategic location, to attract tourists, businesses, and residents. It can also help us to better advocate for Northland’s needs at the national level.
There’s also the potential for finding Northland-based cost-effective solutions to the challenges we all face.
By working together, councils and communities can share resources, knowledge, and expertise, reducing double ups, and increasing efficiency. This approach allows us to deliver better services and infrastructure at a lower cost, benefiting everyone in our region.
Collaboration is the foundation stone of what being a Northlander is all about, we just need to tap into our potential.
Our region is already a centre of excellence: McKay Electrical, Culham Engineering, Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Station, Golden Bay Cement – these are just some of our innovative industry leaders, and they’re all based here in Northland.
Working together on projects like the Renewable Energy Zone, Energy Bridge, Ngāwhā Innovation Park, Knowledge, Education and Arts Hub and four-lane Northland expressway will encourage more development and industry in our region.
Change can only happen when we work together with a joint vision, acknowledging that it can sometimes be a multi-generational process.
Thirty years ago, Reva Meredith and her husband Doug were among the first to liven up our new waterfront. Imagine what we can achieve together in another thirty years.