Council confirms pedestrian mall for part of Cambridge Street, Pātea
South Taranaki District Council has confirmed its decision to declare part of Cambridge Street in Pātea as a pedestrian mall, marking a key milestone in the Pātea South Development and the town’s wider revitalisation programme.
At its Ordinary Council meeting on Wednesday 15 April 2026, Council resolved to declare the section of Cambridge Street between Egmont Street (State Highway 3) and Dorset Street a pedestrian mall following a full Special Consultative Procedure and public hearing.
Consultation ran from 2 December 2025 to February 2026 and attracted 79 submissions, with 73% supporting the proposal and 25% opposed.
Community feedback highlighted strong support for improved pedestrian safety and the opportunity to create a high‑quality, people-focused public space at the southern gateway to Pātea. Submitters also raised important considerations around accessibility, parking, traffic movements and business access, which Council noted will be addressed through detailed design to avoid disruption as much as possible.
Mayor Phil Nixon said the decision reflects both strong community support and a long-term vision for Pātea.
“This project has been shaped through years of planning, co‑design and community discussion. Declaring this section of Cambridge Street as a pedestrian mall allows us to move forward with a safer, more welcoming space that supports events, everyday use and the vitality of the town centre,” Phil said.
The pedestrian mall forms a core part of the Pātea South Development, a transformational project identified through the 2019 Pātea Town Masterplan and reaffirmed in the 2025 Pātea Revitalisation Roadmap. The development aims to strengthen the connection between the town centre, river and beach, improve pedestrian safety, and enhance public amenity.
Under the Local Government Act 1974, the decision initiates a one‑month appeal period. Submitters will be notified directly, and public notice of the decision will be advertised in the Taranaki Daily News. Any appeal must be lodged with the Environment Court within one month of the decision being notified.
