The sound of saws and hammers has become a familiar backdrop to the morning coffee run along Port Road this month, as Whangamata’s main commercial artery undergoes its most significant facelift in a decade. With three new retail tenancies opening their doors before the Labour Weekend rush and two long-standing businesses confirming expansions, the town is betting big on a summer that locals hope will cement its status as the Coromandel’s premier coastal destination.
Leading the charge is the highly anticipated opening of “The Harbour Pantry,” a specialty grocer and deli that took over the former surf shop site at 42 Port Road, just opposite the Williamson Park entrance. Owner Sarah Mitchell, a Whangamata local who spent 15 years in Auckland’s hospitality sector, said the decision to return home was driven by a simple observation.
“Every summer, we watched tourists and locals alike drive to Tairua or Thames for a decent wedge of cheese or a proper sourdough,” Mitchell said on Tuesday, as contractors put the finishing touches on the fit-out. “The town has grown, but the retail offering hasn’t always kept pace. We saw a gap for quality, everyday provisions that don’t require a trip over the hill. We open Friday, and the stockroom is already full.”
The Pantry’s arrival fills a space left vacant since the abrupt closure of “Boardwalk Surf Co.” in March, which had operated on Port Road for 22 years. Owner Greg Thompson cited rising lease costs and a shift to online sales for surf gear as the primary reasons for shuttering the business, a sentiment echoed by several other traders who spoke to the Whangamata News on condition of anonymity.
“The rent on Port Road has gone up nearly 40 percent in three years,” one retail owner said. “You have to sell a lot of ice creams to cover that. The council talks about supporting small business, but the rates and the leasing environment are squeezing the mom-and-pop shops out.”
A wave of expansion and fresh capital
Yet for every closure, new energy is flowing in. At the southern end of Port Road, the family-owned “Coromandel Outfitters” has confirmed a 200-square-metre extension into the adjoining former real estate office, doubling its floor space for camping and fishing gear. Owner Dave Rawlings said the expansion was a direct response to a 25 percent year-on-year increase in sales since 2022.
“We’re seeing a different kind of tourist now,” Rawlings said. “They’re not just here for a day trip. They’re staying a week, they’re booking fishing charters out of the harbour, and they want proper equipment. We’re investing in that long-term market.”
The expansion, which broke ground in early September, is expected to be complete by the first week of December, just in time for the peak holiday period. Rawlings has also hired five new part-time staff, bringing his total workforce to 18.
Further along the strip, the former ANZ bank building on the corner of Beach Road and Port Road—empty since the bank consolidated its services to Tairua in 2021—has been purchased by a Hamilton-based hospitality group. The group, operating under the name “Whanga Social,” is converting the 1970s concrete structure into a two-storey bar and bistro with a rooftop terrace overlooking Williamson Park. The project has been met with mixed reactions from residents, with some welcoming the nightlife option and others concerned about noise and parking.
“We’ve done extensive consultation with the neighbours,” said project manager James O’Connor. “We’ve committed to closing the rooftop by 10pm on weekdays and 11pm on weekends, and we’re installing double-glazing throughout. We want to be a good neighbour, not a nuisance.” The venue is slated for a soft opening in January.
Council weighs in on commercial zoning
The flurry of activity has not gone unnoticed at the Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC). Councillor for the Whangamata ward, Tony Sharpe, acknowledged the pressures of the current market but pointed to the council’s recent adoption of the Whangamata Town Centre Plan, which aims to streamline consent processes for mixed-use developments along Port Road and the harbour frontage.
“We are acutely aware that retail is changing,” Sharpe said. “The days of the generic souvenir shop are numbered. But we have a unique asset here—the harbour, the beach, the walkways. The plan encourages businesses that activate the public realm, like outdoor dining and waterfront access. We’re seeing investors respond to that vision.”
Sharpe also noted that the council is reviewing parking provisions in the CBD, with a working group due to report back in November on options for additional long-stay parking on the eastern side of SH25, near the skate park.
“Parking is the number one complaint we hear from both shoppers and retailers,” he said. “If we can solve that, we unlock the full potential of the strip.”
Local economy trends: a tale of two seasons
The commercial churn comes against a backdrop of broader economic uncertainty. According to Infometrics data released in September, the Coromandel’s retail spending grew by just 1.8 percent in the year to June, down from 6.2 percent the previous year, reflecting a nationwide tightening of discretionary budgets.
However, Whangamata’s accommodation providers report a strong forward booking season for December and January, with occupancy rates at 78 percent as of early October, up five points on the same period last year.
“The summer shoulder season is extending,” said Helen Wills, manager of the Whangamata Holiday Park on Harbour Road. “We’re seeing bookings from mid-November through to the end of February now. People are coming for the lifestyle, and they want the amenities to match. The new shops are a good sign.”
Long-time resident and former Business Association chair, Murray Bell, offered a cautious welcome to the changes.
“I’ve seen three waves of development on Port Road since the 1980s,” Bell said. “The key is to keep the character. We don’t want to become another Mount Maunganui, with a different chain store on every corner. We want independent operators who know the town. So far, the new businesses seem to get that.”
What’s next
With the Harbour Pantry opening this Friday and the Whanga Social build continuing through the summer, all eyes are on the November council meeting, where the parking review and a proposed extension of the pedestrian-friendly zone on the eastern side of Port Road will be debated.
For Sarah Mitchell, the immediate focus is simpler.
“If we can get the locals through the door in the first month, we’ve won,” she said, stacking a display of locally made Manuka honey. “The tourists will follow. Whangamata is ready for a bit of a refresh, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
FAQ
Is the old ANZ building on Beach Road being demolished?
No. The structure is being retained and extensively refurbished into a two-storey bar and bistro called “Whanga Social.” The rooftop terrace will be a new feature, but the building’s facade will largely be preserved to maintain the character of the corner.
When is the Harbour Pantry opening?
The specialty grocer and deli at 42 Port Road opens this Friday, October 18, at 8am. They will operate daily from 8am to 6pm during the summer season.
Are there any new parking options planned for the CBD?
The Thames-Coromandel District Council is currently reviewing parking provisions. A working group is due to report in November on options for additional long-stay parking near SH25, east of the skate park. No final decisions have been made yet.
