Courtenay Place businesses take action: 'Can't wait any longer'

Friday, 5 April 2024

Jeremy Smith opened his first Courtenay Place business in its heyday. Worried about its demise, he and others are now taking action.

Starting on Saturday, a series of events run by Hospitality New Zealand will see street performances and other entertainment along the capital’s party strip.

“Courtenay Place can’t wait any longer to take action … we are leading the charge to reinvigorate Courtenay Place,” he said.

Smith, who has Lulu Bar and El Horno on Courtenay Place, and The Cambridge around the corner, opened his first business in the party strip in its mid-2000s heyday.

It was an era of the Rugby Sevens, the Lions tour, and regular street closures for events. It was a “dynamic and vibrant place”, he said.

But no more. These days, the streets were all-but empty from Monday to Thursday. There had been a number of hospitality closures and more on the cards, he said.

So The Courtenay Place Precinct activation was formed led by Hospitality NZ but with help from the likes of Wellington International Airport and the Property Council.

This Saturday it starts off with a “super hero” scavenger hunt from 2pm and an Armageddon after-party from 6m.

The weeks ahead will see a superhero weekend, 10 weeks of street buskers, an Asian food festival, the Red Bull dance extravaganza, a World of WearableArt “activation”, beer and wine trails, a battle of the bands on the street, and more.