HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN ANNUAL ACTIVITIES PLAN FOR

HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN ANNUAL ACTIVITIES PLAN FOR 2016 2017

FOREWORD The Hastings City Centre Vibrancy Plan 2016-2017 is an action-focused annual plan that complements the Hastings City Centre Strategy. We have achieved a lot since the Vibrancy Plan was launched in 2015-16, and continue to make progress on the key priorities. The challenges to achieving the key focus areas are highlighted, along with what outcomes we hope to achieve. The activities are divided into focus areas of more people, more business and more support; with each detailing who is delivering the actions and within what timeframe. Stakeholder partners responsible for the delivery of actions identified in this plan collaborate with various parties wherever possible, to ensure the delivery of great outcomes for the Hastings city centre. The Hastings City Centre Strategy: A Collective Vision is available from the Hastings District Council website, http://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/hastings-city-centre-strategy 2

HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN The stakeholder partners are: Arts Inc. Heretaunga (formerly Creative Hastings) Hastings City Business Association () Hastings District Council () - Communications and Marketing - Economic Development - Hastings City Art Gallery - Hastings District Libraries - Hastings i-site Visitor Information Centre - Parks/Assets - Social and Youth Development - Strategic Projects Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc. (NKII) We welcome ideas from businesses, arts groups, community members and other potential partners to contribute to the life of the Hastings city centre. Please contact us via Hastings District Council on 06 871 5000; or Hastings City Business Association on 06 876 9093. 3

KEY FOCUS AREAS What are we doing? MORE PEOPLE Providing activities and an environment which increases the number of customers, workers, residents, students and visitors experiencing and enjoying the Hastings city centre. MORE BUSINESS Encourage businesses to grow and invest in the Hastings city centre. MORE SUPPORT Providing effective leadership through a coordinated approach to robust strategic planning, the delivery of valued programmes, effective communication and advocacy. 4

HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN OUR WAY FORWARD CHALLENGES What needs to be worked on? KEY OUTCOMES: What we are attempting to achieve? Reinforcing Hastings credentials as a shopping destination. Encouraging more people to experience Hastings city centre businesses and activities. Creating a buzz so that the Hastings city centre is seen as 'the place to be'. Enhancing Hastings city centre façades and street appearance. Growing the number of residents in the Hastings city centre. Strengthening positive perceptions about Hastings city centre including safety, cleanliness, parking, traffic and vibrancy. EVENTS: More people are attracted to the Hastings city centre and are encouraged to spend more with local businesses. PLACEMAKING: Hastings city centre has a high profile and is appreciated by the community as a great place to live and visit. HASTINGS CITY CENTRE LIVING: Promote more opportunities for people to live in the Hastings city centre. SAFETY: Hastings city centre is known as a place where people enjoy themselves in a safe, fun and friendly atmosphere. Businesses and stakeholders engaging with marketing, promotion and events. More businesses setting up in or expanding into the Hastings city centre. Businesses benefiting from training and development. BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT: Effective networking and participation by local businesses in Hastings city centre programmes. BUSINESS ATTRACTION: New retail and office based businesses are encouraged to establish in the Hastings city centre. BUSINESS CAPABILITY: Workshops and resources to help businesses excel. Agreement of outcomes, plans and actions amongst all stakeholders. Communication and cooperation. Building partnerships to fund and deliver events. ACTIVE HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY GROUP: Clear roles for stakeholder partners in delivering the Hastings City Centre Vibrancy Plan, encouraging wider involvement and leveraging funding. SUPPORT NEW VIBRANCY IDEAS: Vibrancy ideas from the community and local businesses are identified and supported. TARGETED SPONSORSHIP AND FUNDING: Potential sponsors and external grants for events and activities identified to extend benefits to the Hastings city centre. 5

Granny Maher Rita Angus Paraire Tomoana Nola Luxford John Scott whā nau o Paraire Tomoana Apple Industry Sir James Wattie Dick Frizzell www.artsinc.co.nz/projects

HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN THE STEPS TO TAKE Annual activities plan for 2016 2017 MORE PEOPLE KEY FOCUS AREA 1 1.1 Events......................................................... 9 1.2 Placemaking.................................................. 12 1.3 Hastings city centre living.................................. 14 1.4 Safety....................................................... 15 MORE BUSINESS KEY FOCUS AREA 2 2.1 Business engagement...................................... 17 2.2 Business attraction......................................... 17 2.3 Business capability......................................... 17 MORE SUPPORT KEY FOCUS AREA 3 3.1 Active Hastings city centre vibrancy group.................. 19 3.2 Support new vibrancy ideas................................ 19 3.3 Attract targeted sponsorship and funding................. 19 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Arts Inc.: Arts Inc. Heretaunga (formerly Creative Hastings) Chamber: Hawke s Bay Chamber of Commerce HCAG: Hastings City Art Gallery : Hastings City Business Association : Hastings District Council i-site: Hastings i-site Visitor Information Centre NKII: Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc. 7

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HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN MORE PEOPLE KEY FOCUS AREA 1 Providing activities and an environment which increases the number of customers, workers, residents, students and visitors experiencing and enjoying the Hastings city centre. 1.1 EVENTS UNDERTAKE ACTIVITY THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO HASTINGS CITY CENTRE AND ITS BUSINESSES TO: Maximise their engagement and spend with local businesses Enhance civic pride (people feel great about being in Hastings) Leverage and strengthen relationships between key Hastings city centre stakeholders Strengthen the reputation of the Hastings city centre Align with and reinforce the Hastings District Event Implementation Strategy. 1.1.1 EVENTS/PROMOTIONS ACTIVITY Ensure there is wide public knowledge of the Hastings city centre events happening. a. Use all marketing channels to enhance the reach of events, festivals, performance, murals and local activities. and b. Use an integrated media approach to grow engagement with the Hastings city centre and strengthen its reputation. and c. Maintain a calendar of events and promotion channels to effectively market Hastings city centre events. and d. Create more visible What s on in the Hastings city centre channels to strengthen promotion and capitalise on activity happening in the Hastings city centre. For example a large screen for entertainment and messages. and By June 2017 e. Encourage a diversity of cultural events to be based in or extend to Hastings city centre. These events may include: - International Cultures Day - Matariki - Diwali Festival of Lights/ Bollywood Festival and 9

1.1.2 LEVERAGE MAJOR LOCAL EVENTS TO BENEFIT HASTINGS CITY CENTRE Identify opportunities to leverage existing events to include activities in the Hastings city centre. a. These events may include: - ANZAC Day - Art Deco - Arts and Fringe Festival - Blossom Festival - Bikewise month - Chinese Lantern Festival - Edible Fashion - FAWC - Festival of Hockey - Festival of Lights - Hawke s Bay Marathon - Horse of the Year - Te Matatini/Kahungunu Festival and b. Coordinate and integrate a full programme of Christmas related activity in the Hastings city centre such as sourcing and installing major Christmas decorations, offering Christmas decorating to all businesses for a cohesive look and Christmas trees in Hastings (retailers decorating trees on the footpath)., and Arts Inc. November to December 10

HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN 1.1.3 ACTIVATION PROGRAMMES Activate the Hastings city centre streets with regular planned music, entertainment and activities. a. Deliver events and activities in Albert Square. These activities may include: ZEAL Music Box as arranged Music in the Park October to March Sculpture Symposium Arts Inc. Plan inaugural event in 2017 b. Deliver events and activities in the Hastings city centre. These events may include: Zombie march/obstacle course October/November 2017 Movie nights in the Hastings city centre with local partners. and November to June 2017 Christmas Carols December - ongoing c. Deliver a vibrant summer night market programme. 2016/17 d. Deliver Hastings city centre retail promotions. These may include: Retail promotions for Christmas/ Passport to Paradise. November to December Local discount days. Quarterly from October 2016 1.1.4 SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES Provide coordinated information on programmes and activities available during school holidays. a. Develop a calendar of school term holiday programmes and activities with key stakeholder partners and promote widely. 3x per year from 2017 b. Deliver interactive and themed school holiday programmes at the Hastings Library and at the Hastings City Art Gallery. 4x per year 1.1.5 INTERACTIVE FEATURES IN THE HASTINGS CITY CENTRE Interactive activities, sculpture and art in Hastings city centre publicly owned facilities, spaces, parks and land. a. Chess: Provide a good quality, easy-touse, outdoor chess set for Albert Square. November 2017 b. Table tennis: Investigate a public table tennis table for Albert Square/the Hastings city centre. December 2017 c. Blue blocks: Maintain the blue blocks as an interactive play facility for children in Albert Square. 11

1.2 PLACEMAKING HASTINGS CITY CENTRE HAS A HIGH PROFILE AND IS APPRECIATED BY THE COMMUNITY AS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND VISIT. 1.2.1 BEAUTIFICATION Hastings city centre street beautification and amenity improvements, for example: a. Flags on building flag poles: Arrange building owners permission to use building flag poles in the Hastings city centre. Display historical flags, old photos and new events. June 2017 b. Roll out a visual merchandising toolkit for businesses. November 2017 c. Improvement programmes: Streetscape delivery programmes, implement improvements in streets identified in Council s long term plan. d. Façade enhancement and lighting scheme: continue to facilitate the uptake of the façade enhancement and lighting scheme available to Hastings city centre property owners. Consider links to sound and veranda lighting. and 12

HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN 1.2.2 HISTORY AND ARTS Extend recognition of Hastings history and art, and leverage existing and new projects to benefit the community and Hastings city centre. a. Develop a historical guide for Hastings. September 2016 b. Provide guided arts tours in the Hastings city centre during the Arts Festival. HCAG October 2016 c. Continue the implementation of the Icons Portrait project (stage 2). Arts Inc., and stakeholder partners November 2016 d. Promote Hastings Art Deco tours and events., Art Deco Trust February 2017 e. Promote the installation of more murals and artwork around the Hastings city centre, using local artists and local Hastings/ Heretaunga themes/stories/ history/ identities, etc. to rejuvenate streets and strengthen identity. Arts Inc., and f. Finalise planning and begin Opera House earthquake strengthening. August/September 2017 g. Establish an Opera House Precinct Working Group for community engagement and fundraising with arts and cultural representatives. March 2017 1.2.3 CONNECTIVITY & ACCESS Increase access and movement corridors and area connectivity to strengthen access and connectivity. a. Investigate improving the pedestrian arcade leading to Hastings City Square.,, local creative partners and NKII June 2017 b. Scope out the central corridor revitalisation plan with green spaces, including railway corridor connectivity. Per Council long-term plan c. Scope improvements to the Hastings city centre mall, including stage alterations, play features, mall lighting and power. Per Council long-term plan 1.2.4 TECHNOLOGY Provide access to technology to encourage more use of the Hastings city centre. a. Investigate and promote opportunities with providers to extend free Wi-Fi from Hastings City Square and/or the Library to Albert Square. and b. Investigate providing a solar charge table in the Hastings city centre with partners and sponsors, and promote mobile device charging options currently available (for example at the library). and June 2017 13

1.3 HASTINGS CITY CENTRE LIVING ENCOURAGE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THE HASTINGS CITY CENTRE. 1.3.1 IDENTIFY HASTINGS CITY CENTRE LIVING OPTIONS Assess and promote opportunities for developing more Hastings city centre living including identifying properties suitable for residential conversion. a. Provide a residential conversion pack/ business pack for parties interested in converting commercial property to residential use. 14

HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN 1.4 SAFETY HASTINGS CITY CENTRE IS KNOWN AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ENJOY THEMSELVES IN A SAFE, FUN AND FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE. 1.4.1 ENHANCE HASTINGS CITY CENTRE SAFETY Work with stakeholder partners to promote positive safety initiatives. a. Support work by Safer Hastings to create a stocktake of safety initiatives for the Hastings city centre. and b. Encourage businesses to undertake resilience and business continuity planning. and c. Liaise with s Planning and Regulatory team about the roles of the City Assist team and discuss any opportunities for involvement in positive initiatives. d. Monitor the ongoing success of the city Assist Initiative. 15

HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN MORE BUSINESS KEY FOCUS AREA 2 Encourage businesses to grow and invest in the Hastings city centre. 2.1 BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT EFFECTIVE NETWORKING AND PARTICIPATION BY LOCAL BUSINESSES IN HASTINGS CITY CENTRE PROGRAMMES. 2.2 BUSINESS ATTRACTION NEW RETAIL AND OFFICE-BASED BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO ESTABLISH IN THE HASTINGS CITY CENTRE. 2.3 BUSINESS CAPABILITY WORKSHOPS AND RESOURCES TO HELP BUSINESSES EXCEL. 2.1.1 BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION Maintain effective engagement with Hastings city centre businesses, business organisations and key agencies. a. Create relationships with individual businesses and agree support services required. Identify opportunities for increasing Hastings city centre economic growth. and b. Hold regular established networking functions for members, such as Connect Business Networking. and c. Maintain a high level of awareness and understanding through effective communication including an e-newsletter. and 2.2.1 BUSINESS GROWTH work to encourage new businesses to the Hastings city centre. a. Proactively identify and engage with businesses around the country and internationally to attract them to the Hastings city centre. b. Identify the vacant properties in the Hastings city centre and opportunities to redevelop. c. Where appropriate, identify Hastings District Council property with potential for redevelopment and seek proposal. 2.3.1 STRENGTHENING BUSINESSES Continued business development programme to increase business capability and sustainability through education, training and the dissemination of relevant information. This includes business workshops., and Chamber 17

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HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN MORE SUPPORT KEY FOCUS AREA 3 Providing effective leadership through a coordinated approach to robust strategic planning, the delivery of valued programmes, effective communication and advocacy. 3.1 ACTIVE HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY GROUP CLEAR ROLES FOR STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS IN DELIVERING THE HASTINGS CITY CENTRE VIBRANCY PLAN, ENCOURAGING WIDER INVOLVEMENT AND LEVERAGING FUNDING. 3.2 SUPPORT NEW VIBRANCY IDEAS VIBRANCY IDEAS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE IDENTIFIED AND SUPPORTED. 3.3 ATTRACT TARGETED SPONSORSHIP AND FUNDING POTENTIAL SPONSORS AND EXTERNAL GRANTS FOR EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IDENTIFIED TO EXTEND BENEFITS TO THE HASTINGS CITY CENTRE. 3.1.1 STAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIP Maintain the working group which helps move the Hastings city centre forward via a continued focus on vibrancy (promotions and events), the economy and inner city living. a. Maintain the partnership approach between key stakeholder partners. All stakeholder partners b. Ensure there are clear roles for stakeholder partners to deliver the Hastings City Centre Vibrancy Plan. All stakeholder partners 3.2.1 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Ensure vibrancy ideas from the community and local businesses are identified and supported. a. Capture ideas and initiatives to move the Hastings city centre forward. and b. Provide a 'generator fund' to contribute to new vibrancy initiatives arising during the year. 3.3.1 ADDING VALUE Encourage wider participation and sponsorship of Hastings city centre activities to bring more people and business into the Hastings city centre. a. Identify potential sponsors for events and activities and provide sponsor value propositions to encourage participation.,, and Arts Inc. b. Seek external grants for events and activities to extend benefits to the Hastings city centre., and Arts Inc. 19

HASTINGS DISTRICT COUNCIL 207 Lyndon Road East Hastings 4122 Private Bag 9002 Hastings 4156 Phone +64 6 871 5000 Fax +64 6 871 5100 Hastingsdc.govt.nz customerservice@hdc.govt.nz TE KAUNIHERA O HERETAUNGA 20