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- By Shawna Coleman, general manager, Pukekohe Business Association
It’s no secret that the ceramic tiles in Pukekohe’s town centre become a serious hazard during the wetter months.
The Pukekohe Business Association has been actively advocating for a cost-effective solution that minimises disruption to businesses while addressing this ongoing issue for more than five years.
In 2023, we surveyed our members and Facebook followers to understand the impact of this problem on businesses and the wider community. The response was overwhelming: more than 240 people participated within just a few weeks, and the results were alarming.
Over 82 percent of respondents reported slipping in the town centre, with 37 percent suffering injuries. The majority of incidents occurred on upper King Street, resulting in broken bones, muscle injuries, sprains, grazes, and even hospital visits. Most concerningly, 50 percent of people said they actively avoid Pukekohe’s CBD when it’s raining due to the risk of slipping.
We have secured approval to install specialty pavement grit at five test locations on King
Street. Each site has been treated using a slightly different method, grit quantity, and
adhesive, allowing us to try five potential solutions over the next six months.
With a mix of rain and strong sun over the past few weeks, I’m really pleased with how these test patches are performing so far. We’ll continue to monitor them closely as we head into winter and will report back to the Franklin Local Board, Auckland Transport, and our
members on the trial results and next steps.
If you or someone you know slips or falls due to the slippery pavers around town, please
make sure to report it to Auckland Transport. They need to be aware of how unsafe these
public spaces are.
You can lodge a complaint by calling Auckland Transport at 09 366 6400 or by using their
online form at https://tinyurl.com/AT-Report-footpath.
