The Thames business community is reminding people that, although the Coromandel Peninsula is no longer easily accessible, the town is “unaffected” by closures and is “open for business”.
Thames Business Association manager Sue Lewis O’Halloran said that, ahead of the Waitangi long weekend, the town remained “accessible” and “humming” and support for local businesses was needed.
“It is vitally important that the ‘engine room’ of the district is still functioning and operating, business as usual.”
Sue told The Profile that, during the recent storms, Thames businesses continued to operate, except Goldfields Shopping Centre when it closed for one day in preparation of heavy rainfall and rising river levels.
“Pak ‘n Save was always open – demonstrating once again how resilient and determined our business owners and operators are,” she said.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s director of regional relationships in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, David Spiers, who was in the town on Thursday, also said the area was in need of support.
“Don’t forget that the Coromandel is here. There are a lot of businesses here that are really struggling and have struggled for two years with Covid. We’ve now had the horror month,” he said.
“Those businesses need your support, so if you are making your way up here, be very, very, careful, but show them some love because they need it.”
