Postscript:
August 2001
This
is a town planning assignment I prepared in my first year of University.
Though it may seem an odd choice for inclusion on this website,
I see it as an intriguing historic piece on this small New Zealand
town. It examines both Wairoa’s downtown area, as well as the
older, more run-down, North Clyde mainstreet on the other side
of the river.
Since
the late 1980s, the township of Wairoa has continued to decline.
Indeed, since the 1996 Census, the population of the entire district
has decreased by some ten percent, to a population of just over
9,000 people in 2001. The townscape has changed dramatically,
also, with the loss of the old Wairoa bridge as a result of Cyclone
Bola in 1988, and the undertaking of a town center mainstreet
redevelopment (including placement of a "slow streets"
streetscape) in the late 1990s. Fascinating also is the number
of older automobiles; the town has a definite "1970s"
feel to it in this late 1980s examination.
It
is my intention to revisit Wairoa as it is in the early 21st century,
and present the town as it is now. What has changed? What remains
the same? Indeed, the new bridge has cut a swathe through the
main street, dwarfing the old lighthouse, and creating a micro-urban
problem area in the form of an underpass plagued by graffiti.
An examination of the Wairoa townscape ca. 2003/2004, coming soon…
Originally
posted to "Distractions"
8.2001. Reposted to ahikaa.com
5.2004.
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1.
NORTH CLYDE, MAINSTREET RURAL NEW ZEALAND
North
Clyde, on the north side of the Wairoa River, presents a townscape
which is the epitome of a rural New Zealand small town. One straight
street, bounded on both sides with low-rise buildings; power lines
draped over the street; empty over-grown lots; all add atmosphere
typical of small-town NZ.
It
is a run-down, forgotten part of town. What more can be said about
a town who’s only eyecatching aspect is a toilet block?
PHOTO
2.
2.
NORTH CLYDE, MAINSTREET RURAL NEW ZEALAND
Signs
exist which shows this as once being a thriving centre (which
it was before the main street shifted across the river).
This
can be seen in the remnants of former land use. The NZ Loan &
Mercantile Co. Ltd sign above the taxi stand (photo 3); the Oslers
bakery sign above the dairy (photo 4); (the new, larger Oslers
is visible in photo 9) both of which were central function businesses.
Now it remains as only a secondary centre. This further encourages
the street to toke on aspects of a declining rural town.
In
photo 5, we see many aspects typical of rural, run-down New Zealand
towns. Tarmac, mass rusting corrugated iron, wooden power poles,
paint a cliched picture of rural NZ.
PHOTO
3.
PHOTO
4.
PHOTO
5.
3.
WAIROA: ENTRANCE, LANDMARKS
ENTRY
Entrance
to the town is most dramatic from the east. Here, as you rise
over Te Uhi Hill, one at first views blank space (diagram to go
here). Due to the inclined angle of entry, it seems to be infinite
space, rather than just sky.
Then
as the hill is traversed, the landscape is suddenly spread out
before you. The town is suddenly there.
This
is best witnessed at night, when you suddenly come out of the
darkness, into the light.
LANDMARK
As
one arrives in the town, the landmark of Wairoa - its lighthouse
- immediately hits the eye. Photo 7 does not do it justice. Figure
b. shows how its effect works. At night it is even better, when
it serves as a beacon to the centre of the town.
Choice
of location of this feature must be applauded. Although it is
situated to the left of the bridge, it has managed to be located
so as to be obvious from the entry view down Bridge Street. Obviously
some thought was given in decision of this location.
PHOTO
7.
4.
MARINE PARADE, MAIN STREET, WAIROA – CONTRASTS
PHOTO
8.
The
photos above and below provide a highly differing view. One is
park-like, serene and monumental. The other ordered, urban and
central, they seem worlds apart…
PHOTO
9.
5.
MARINE PARADE, MAIN STREET, WAIROA
PHOTO
10.
…yet
the picture above shows them to be one and the same. This shows
one very unique aspect of the town, and its main street (Marine
Parade). It is very much a riverside townscape. The commercial,
business, civic and leisure activities are all strung out along
the river (see Photo 1). No other New Zealand town shares this
unique element. Most others are canyon streets, bounded on both
side by commercial buildings. Parks are only interspersed as separate
spaces. Here, the park and the river are both as important as
the main street and the buildings.
Escape
is easy from the hustle and bustle of the town. Everywhere just
a short walk across the street takes you into a whole new environment.
Note the orientation of the chairs in photo 8. They turn their
back on the street, and face out to the river. It provides a distinct
shift between commercial and park areas in a very small space.
Natural
and man-made barriers have helped provide this. The road, the
river, and the trees, all serve as physical and visual barriers
between the two.
6.
MARINE PARADE, MAIN STREET, WAIROA – WALKING DOWN THE STREET
WALKING
DOWN THE STREET
Another
townscape element is the Marine Parade possesses a distinct start
and finish. The above was the start. The bridge (visible in photo
14) and lighthouse serve as the starting point.
Now
let’s take a journey down the street, and view its townscape.
POWER
POLES
Power
poles mar the landscape. And they give an added sense of perspective
to the view. Impact of these is arguable. They cannot be seen
from under the verandahs. Where they can be seen, across the street,
the view is distracted by the river and park. Also, it is worth
noting that attempt is being taken to replace these with the sleeker,
wireless poles visible in photo 8.
PHOTO
11.
SIDE
VIEWS
The
two views opposite give side views down alleyways. Here are two
enclosed vistas. Photo 12, as well as being a landmark (the church)
type view, provides some sense of mystery, in that part of the
building is in fact hidden from view. The observer wonders what
could be there.
PHOTO
12.
Photo
13’s view is much more enclosed. It has an added element of danger
in its darkness.
Architecture
on the two buildings is worthy of mention. Both have unique characteristics.
The 1913 building in fact has aspects of "Art Deco".
PHOTO
13.
7.
MARINE PARADE, MAIN STREET, WAIROA
A
very "crass" image of townscape. Grey flooring, darkened
shops, and ugly commercial frontages.
PHOTO
14.
Another
side view, more power lines. Note the slight river terrace (also
visible in photo 13). This places the town front a level below
the rest.
PHOTO
15.
8.
MARINE PARADE, MAIN STREET, WAIROA – CIVIC CENTRE
CIVIC
CENTRE
Since
the definitive start, the townscape has been a jumble of buildings,
alleyways, and side-views. Now definition and existence of planning
returns. We arrive at what is unofficially the civic centre of
Wairoa. Church, library, gardens, return us to a monumental serenity
reminescent of the start. It gives a townscape totally distinctive
from the other two. It also provides an end to the town, in that
it returns us somewhat to where we started. There seems to be
little more left to see. The town has been viewed in its entirety.
click
for full
PHOTO
16.
9.
MARINE PARADE, MAIN STREET, WAIROA – ARCHITECTURE
Remnants
from an era when businesses were willing to invest in New Zealand’s
small towns, these buildings are testimony to Wairoa’s glorious
past.
Attention
to detail, as with the lion heads to the left, or above the door
below or on the ANZ building, or the monumental columns above,
reflect this.
These
buildings are colourful, both literally, and in design and detail.
They possess character fast disappearing from our cities.
PHOTO
17.
PHOTO
18.
PHOTO
19.
10.
END VIEW
Wairoa
is a small town of 5,000 people. Its only major industry is a
freezing works, and it also serves as a service centre for the
farming hinterland. These elements are all characteristic of an
archetypal small New Zealand town. But, unlike North Clyde, Wairoa’s
townscape is not typical of a small town in rural New Zealand.
It
has been gifted naturally, and clever planning gives it two points
which tie up the main street. Marine Parade is well endowed in
these aspects.
One
problem, though, can be seen below. Although the main street delineates
river from town, giving aspects shown earlier, it also tends to
isolate it, which is not good. The riverfront park seems to be
an island. Closure of the main street and development of a mall
would help emphasise its riverside townscape.
PHOTO
20.
Picture
20 is a view from the east end of Marine Parade. Note the bridge
and the contrast between river and town. The trees stand up as
a barrier between the two, also becoming an island in between
river and road.
Also
note the strong stepped elements of the three larger buildings
on the main street. It tends to a somewhat repetitive element.
