Auckland Mayor Phil Goff visits Old Papatoetoe

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff was whisked away on a whistle stop tour of development sites in Old Papatoetoe last Tuesday, led by Panuku Development Auckland CE Roger and several members of its development team – Allan Young, Director Development, Pete Johnson, Project Manager and John Carter.

The Mayor was first shown plans for four areas identified for redevelopment in Old Papatoetoe before he was taken on a walking tour of the sites, where along the way he met a number of local businesspeople.

The tour took in the New World supermarket, where the Mayor was introduced to the supermarket operator, Max McDermid, and the neighbouring car park on Wallace Road which will be reconfigured to enhance safety and accessibility for vehicles and pedestrians. Next on the map was a visit to was Old Papatoetoe Mall, where Aspec Construction is near to completing the first stage of a complete makeover. It was here that the Mayor was introduced to Lynette O’Brien, owner of City Centre Pharmacy, which has remained open during the reconstruction of the Mall so as to continue to serve the heath needs of the local community.

The visit ended on George Street outside the Town Hall where the Mayor enjoyed a coffee and a bite to eat from the Cook Islands courtesy of the oneCOOPERATIVE and oneBASKET, a pop-up community food truck. Also in attendance from Panuku was Helga Sonier, Senior Engagement Advisor, and Connie Clarkson, Manager Commercial Operations and Loti Foli, Chairperson of Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board and Ross Robertson, Deputy Chairperson of Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board.