New tenants on Church Street

Both Heartlands and Eastbay REAP are well known in Ōpōtiki and have a long history in town. But due to growth and offering more services to the community, they are dividing their two services into separate buildings with Heartlands staying at 93 Church Street, and Eastbay REAP moving to new standalone premises at 101A Church Street between Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi and the Hospice shop.

Eastbay REAP Chief Executive, Dr Ryan Morrison said that both were growing and offering even more services to the Ōpōtiki Community.

“Heartlands is about making government and community services more accessible under one roof. For Eastbay REAP that also includes our AA Vehicle and Driver Licensing service and Driver Training programmes, which have grown over the past few years.”

“Our new site (at 101A Church Street) will be home to our Adult & Community Education programmes and Youth Services. These include supports around learning plans, mentoring, NCEA and unit standards support, CVs, parenting and budgeting programmes, non-formal te reo me ōna tikanga Māori courses, digital computing, and more,” Dr Morrison said.

Council’s Planning and Regulatory Group Manager, Gerard McCormack, said that the new tenants would add to the vibrancy of the town centre.

“Council has been focussed on improving our own buildings in town so we can attract great tenants like Eastbay REAP. We’re really pleased to have them moving in next door to Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi.

“Through our Town Centre Revitalisation Project, we are building a bustling and busy CBD that people want to come to and spend time in. With the banking hub and new tenants for the large new building [Lots 9 and 10], Eastbay REAP, and several other new private businesses opening, we are pleased to see our CBD bucking the trend and becoming a more active and busy place,” Mr McCormack said.