It's a good discussion in itself . Have 'they' created a society/population in NZ that we are so busy fending for ourselves just to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table that we no longer can afford the time to get involved?

I'm (ironically) lucky that doing the sole parent to only one I drag her along to these hui's often. And she does her homework/ watches a dv,d/ eats all the crackers originally there were 'looks' , but I've normalised it. Bring back the community hui's with a pile of kids in the corner I say!

Also the rents also will be what keeps the creatives, being that they aren't the highest earners in our fair country. Both Living and studio/retail/work spaces needing to be affordable

One side has residential, one side doesn't. One side has expensive retail, one side doesn't (didn't), Cheap rent in K rd attracts the young creative an interesting, who sometimes with a lot of hard work turn into go to, established heart . The prostitute col and needle exchange has moved on, :( Urge bar has closed their doors. But there are some new interesting replacements.... on that side of the road at least.

Yes! Tito has been another great example of new additions to K rd, and also 'Uncle Mans' if you are in for left great Malaysian street food.
When I stop and think of these places opening up I am heartened to know K rd keeps up the fight against becoming "the next Ponsonby Central" - said in quotation marks because that has been said so many times.
(not because I have anything against PC just that's their thing.)

More often than not Not paid. My perception is these are the people are time and asst rich (can afford to use spare time not working or on family), and are not always off the immediate community, 'from auckland' seems to suffice.

I absolutely agree with that end and side of k rd. (we are talking old telecom building?) I'm not are why they aren't converted into 2nd level apartments as residential space along k is a premium, non street level and sometimes even street level, retail is not.