Paula’s Papakura Proud Papakura Business Association chair Paula Schultz, pictured, is described by the

inimitable Tracy Shackleton as “amazing and creative”. Local entrepreneur Paula is the

walking, talking example of the town centre’s slogan, ‘proud, Papakura proud’.

We put a series of questions to Paula to find out more about her and the place she loves.

1. How long have you lived and worked in Papakura? I’ve only lived in Papakura for two years, but I’ve been in been in business in Papakura for six. My

partner and I bought an iconic Papakura building and gave it a new lease on life by converting the

first storey offices, that had been empty for 30 years, into seven New York style loft apartments. We

started a café and are about to relaunch our newest apartment development.

2. How long have you been on the PBA board and how long as chair? I joined the board in March of 2018 and was voted in as Chair in October 2018.

3. What does ‘Proud Papakura Proud’ mean to you?

That is a really interesting question. In fact, we have grown the idea of pride in our town into the larger idea of what it means to really live in the area with our new #livepapakura campaign which we’ll be rolling out in the coming months. For the local population to have pride in their community, they have to participate in the community, which is to literally “live the dream” if you will. There is so much to the area, so many great aspects from food, to shopping, to recreation, to events, that when one really does live Papakura, experience it on that personal level, they can in fact take pride in their town. That’s great for everybody.

4. You’re accompanying Tracy at this year’s ICTC event over the ditch: a. what will you be presenting? The title of our presentation is changing perceptions. We’ll be talking about how you can take a town centre that is perceived as being unsafe, unattractive and dying, and transform it into a vibrant area that is inviting, has a sense of community, and attracts those who are seeking an area to congregate and enjoy whilst offering them a town centre with a soul that provides then with a real sense of community. And how this can be achieved while being surrounded by urban sprawl, and large-scale developers’ desire to push for increased commercial development throughout the community.

b. Hope to take away from the conference?

We’d like to take away as many experiences and ideas from other town centres and urban design professionals around the transformation of their centres. Importantly, we want to know how the community was included and how they were encouraged to participate in the journey to make the town their own.

5. When/what/why/how are you window dressing? It was an idea to try and create some interest in an otherwise uninviting window. If a street is interesting to walk down, it encourages people to do it more often. When people walk and shop rather than drive and park outside the one shop they want to go to, they’re more likely to notice other businesses or new businesses and shop more. It also gives local artists/designers a chance to showcase their work. I’m a strong believer in creating a town centre where people want to stroll and sit and enjoy the surroundings rather than one where they just drive right through and that’s where our other beautification

initiatives come in - the planters, murals, bike planters.

6. What did you think of the recent investors event?

In a word, fantastic. It’s rare to get that level of influence from council, the construction industry and developers in one room, so it was important that the content was useable and easily understood. Everyone walked away with not just a better understanding of what the board and BID has been working on, but I think with confidence that there was support from the highest level of council. . . and that’s no easy task. READ MORE

7. Describe the partnership you’re building with the local board We have probably one of the best relationships here in Papakura of any of the town centre/local

board combination. We are all working to achieve the same outcome, and everyone involved

knows that well enough to share ideas and co-operate to ensure they work towards achieving

that outcome. One of the latest collaborations is to offer free outdoor dining to our local cafés

and restaurants. Again, creating interest on the street as well as safer streets, as the famous

urbanist Jane Jacobs said, it’s all about “eyes on the street”.

8. Has Farmers traded from the same spot for all those 100 years?

Yes. The exact same place. And the Willis Brothers Store occupied the same spot prior to Farmers, so that corner alone has well over 150 years of providing the people of Papakura with sundry items, which is pretty cool.

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9. What advice would you give to someone who is already on the board but thinking whether they’re capable of being chair?

Anyone who has passion and commitment towards their town centre and is prepared to give up some of their time can be a Chair.

10. If you could sum up the amazing Tracy in just five words, what would they be? Did she write that question? But seriously, Tracy is passionate, tenacious, gregarious, loyal, devoted and so much more, an amazing asset for our town centre.