PHOTO/STEVE RENDLE
Marcus Anselm
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Greytown’s Main St is on the highway to honours at this year’s Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards.
The town’s iconic Main St is a finalist in the competition’s Best Street category.
The road, which includes the Greytown Historic Heritage Precinct, will contest the prize with Ridgway St in Whanganui and Seymour Ave in Nelson.
“We’re absolutely delighted to hear our town has been chosen as a finalist,” a spokesperson for the Greytown Community Board, who nominated the street, said.
“Greytown locals have worked very hard to keep our Main St attractive for both residents and visitors.
“Winning the Most Beautiful Small Town [population under 5000] title two years ago has had incredible benefits for the town, with extensive media coverage both nationally and internationally and a growth in visitor numbers, strengthening our tourism sector and overall economy.”
Sue Anders owns the Jayah With Soul store on Main St. Moving to the street from Martinborough had a ‘huge’ influence on her business, she said.
The town’s 2017 victory in the Most Beautiful Small Town category had been noted by visitors.
“It’s quite amazing watching the tourists walking around with their cameras,” she said.
“People come into the shop, having seen the winners’ sign on the way into town and say they agree with it.”
Customers who had travelled from around the North Island to visit the town, told her it was “a shopping Mecca”, she said.
“If they come to Martinborough to stay, they come to Greytown to shop.”
The awards, run by the Keep New Zealand Beautiful charitable trust, recognise and celebrate positive actions taken by communities in local and urban areas to protect and enhance their local environments.
This year’s winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Dunedin on October 24.
