The owner of Caffeinated Dragon games café in central Wellington says business has dropped hugely due to construction work underway as the council redevelops Te Ngākau Civic Square. Photo: RNZ / Pretoria Gordon
The owner of an inner-city Wellington café near Te Ngākau Civic Square says it is being forced to close its doors by the Wellington City Council's never-ending construction work on the Central Library and the Town Hall.
Te Ngākau Civic Square is undergoing major redevelopment, including seismic strengthening of the Central Library and Town Hall, and demolition of the Civic Administration Building. The library is scheduled to reopen in 2026.
Caffeinated Dragon Games café is situated on Victoria Street across the road from the Wellington Central Library.
Owner Rhys Kaan said business had dropped by as much as 80 percent on some days as a result of the construction work. Photo: RNZ Pretoria Gordon
Wellington cafe to close due to 'never-ending' construction
Owner Rhys Kaan told Morning Report that he has had to send staff home because of headaches, stomach issues, anxiety triggers, and a "considerable amount" of stress from the continuous, "extremely" loud noise, pollution and heat.
Wellington City Council put up a blue barred gate, which had done nothing to mitigate or dampen the noise, dust or fumes coming from across the road, he said.
"It's noise. It's fumes. It's pollution," Kaan said.
"All the shaking, rattling as they are doing everything with jackhammers, diggers, construction work.
"Impressive to see, but the disruption has just been massive."
Kaan said business had been driven down as much as 80 percent on some days.
"Last week was particularly bad," he said.
"We actually had a few people just sort of pop in, have a quick look, and then leave as soon as they could because it was just so unpleasant to be in."
Kaan took to Facebook on Friday to share that Caffeinated Dragon Games does not have the financial resources to survive for much longer, and unless the café sees a dramatic increase in business, it is unlikely to make it to the end of June.
However, he told Morning Report, that he had got a lot of support from the community since then.
"It's been quite energising," he said.
"We are starting to think of how we can fund-raise, and get money to fund a move to somewhere else in the city."
He said the only support that he had been offered from the Wellington City Council consisted off management training, social media training, and signage to indicate that the café was still open.
"[It] is a little bit irresponsible if you ask me, because it's basically trying to entice more people, more members of the general public, into what is basically becoming an increasingly hazardous, unpleasant area."
Kaan said he had received no financial support and no assistance to move, even temporarily.
Nor had his landlord received any rates relief, despite having "gone above and beyond to be supportive as the world literally starts crashing down around us", Kaan said.
He said he was now considering legal action against the Wellington City Council.