Revitalise Our Places Ōamaru

Street Styles Pop up

Creative US Pop up

Waitaki District Council is excited to announce the launch of Revitalise Our Places Ōamaru (ROPO), a brokerage programme that will turn empty shops from vacant into vibrant. This programme represents a significant milestone in our CBD Revitalisation plan to add vibrancy back to our main street.

As a response to the community’s post-pandemic concerns about the number of vacant spaces and closed businesses in our shopping area along Thames Street, a six-month pilot brokerage project is designed to fill these spaces for 30 day periods in-between the times when there is a commercial tenant. These programmes are about highlighting people making and presenting original items, ideas, concepts and interactions with their pop-ups.

This programme will showcase or ‘stage’ these empty spaces with 'Pop ups' to highlight the opportunities within them and support attraction of new long-term commercial tenants.

Waitaki District Council is proud to be bringing this programme to Ōamaru. Designed not to compete with the existing businesses, only to add to the CBD’s experience by supporting our local creative community to showcase their artistry and talent.

If you're interested in applying to join our Pop up community, use the form below:

Application/enquiry form

Waste Free Waitaki Pop up

179 Thames Street

We’ve got to walk the talk when it comes to waste. So let’s start the talk today! A Pop-up with a sustainability focus – Council’s Waste Minimisation team will be there with displays and discussion on food loss, slow fashion, resource recovery and what we can do to create a waste free future.

Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes (or whenever the flags are out)

Street Styles Pop up

149 Thames Street

A photography exhibition by Martin Horspool capturing interesting characters in a documentary style with a "close up" technique. His subjects usually belong to stylish sub cultures from Japanese rockabillies to Westie hot-rodders and more.

Hours: Martin will be on-site every Saturday between 11am-noon to answer any questions.