‘Put the foot down’: MP issues action plan to grow Timaru
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Just three weeks after issuing a firmly worded challenge to his home town, telling it to “get its act together”, MP James Meager has issued a loose plan for making Timaru “the best small city in the country”.
Late last month, Meager took to social media to address a number of long-running issues, and said the condition of State Highway 1 through the town was a “disgrace”.
On Monday, Meager said he had met with a number of stakeholders to discuss a range of issues facing Timaru, and gave a commitment to help form a group dedicated to growing the town.
He said that group would include the Timaru CBD Group, developers, council, Venture Timaru, Timaru District Holdings Ltd, the port and airport, businesses and anyone with “big levers to pull”.
“I really do think we can make our town the best small city in the country. We have all of the ingredients, we just need to put the foot down.
“If there are central government roadblocks to growth, I will advocate for their removal.”
Meager thanked those who had already shown an interest, and those who had contacted him with ideas, since he had spoken out late last month.
He said he had met with the developer of The Showgrounds, contractors and the Timaru District Council to discuss the development, and roading issues outside it.
“We had a good discussion and were very clear on what needs to happen next to progress The Showgrounds.”
He said he had also met with NZ Transport Agency representatives in Wellington who were “well under way” with works to replace a troublesome culvert under SH1.
Meager said getting the culvert work completed “quickly to limit disruption” was in his list of action points.
“I’ll be pushing NZTA, and the contractors, to consider working at all hours to make as much progress as possible, particularly with a large close down looming over a busy holiday period.”
Work on the intersection near the culvert was also required, and Meager had made it clear he believed that should all be done at once. Last month he described any plan to rip up the road “again and again” because the parties involved could not find a straightforward solution as “nuts”.
“They (NZTA) have the ability in their programme to add the intersection and road strengthening works so we could have a fully upgraded intersection by mid-2026,” he said.
He said he would also explore potential infrastructure support from central government.
A good solution would benefit all as NZTA was responsible for state highway maintenance, he said.
“The sooner we get it sorted, the less we’ll all pay in the long run.”
Meager said The Showgrounds developer had explained the rationale behind an application for changes to its resource consent, which was under consideration by the council.
“There are commercially sensitive aspects that I won’t go into, but it was quite clear to me that the changes would enable them to attract significant retailers into Timaru from outside the region.”
Meager said attracting new businesses to Timaru would be “a game changer for the region, bringing jobs and incomes”.
“We complain so much about not having opportunities for our young people, yet when something comes along we are nervous and limiting.”
He said the council had assured him it had a “pro-growth outlook”.
“In my view, the costs of saying yes to pushing The Showgrounds along, now that we are halfway there, are far outweighed by the costs of saying no.”.
Meager said he understood the concerns about smaller lot sizes competing with the CBD, but believed the CBD would “always be there”.
“Having more options for retailers is good for downward pressure on rents, and good for placing incentives and pressure on building owners in the CBD to provide a more attractive offering.”
He said as shopping habits changed, there needed to be more thinking around the future of the CBD.
“We may need to be open to some new and radical ideas around investment and change along our main street.
“We need to be thinking much more cleverly and clearly about how to use the Bay as a centrepiece, how to connect the new theatre district with the north end, and how to encourage much more inner-city living.
“That is what is going to bring vibrancy and life to the CBD, not continued opposition to other commercial and retail opportunities.”
He had met with members of the Timaru CBD Group and pledged to work with them, and anyone who wanted to grow and beautify the town centre.
“There are a lot of things we align on. Building owners don’t have enough confidence in the CBD, and we need to turn that around.”
He said changes to the earthquake-prone building rules would help, as would subsoil testing results.
“We need fewer strategies, and more actions.”
Meager said rates in the CBD seemed to be “out of sync” with other regional centres.
He also said parking in the CBD should be carefully considered.
“Timaruvians love parking close to where they shop, so any changes to on-street parking need to be complemented with decent-sized, high-quality and secure parking buildings or spaces.”