Be our Guest - Try Tawa: What We Learned from the Autumn Survey
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
This autumn, we once again invited our community to "Try Tawa" - and once again, you delivered.
Between 1 March and 30 April 2026, over 70 people completed our Be our Guest - Try Tawa survey, helping us better understand how, why and where people are spending their money locally.
The survey was promoted through Facebook advertising, community Facebook pages, the Tawa Residents' Association newsletter, and flyers distributed at the Tawa Rotary Concert in the Park. The campaign generated more than 61,000 views on Facebook and reached over 28,000 people. The concert flyers alone resulted in approximately a dozen survey responses.
As always, thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts. Your feedback helps us better understand what's working well, where opportunities exist, and how we can continue to support our local business community.
Strong Local Engagement Continues
One of the clearest messages from the Autumn survey is that Tawa residents continue to strongly support local businesses.
Almost 40% of respondents said they use Tawa businesses most days of the week, while a further 18% visit two to three times each week. Combined, that means more than half of the respondents are shopping locally multiple times every week.
While most respondents (70%) live in Tawa, we also saw increased participation from residents in other parts of Wellington. This suggests that Tawa's reputation as a convenient and welcoming destination is extending beyond our immediate neighbourhood.
Food and drink businesses remain the most frequently used category, with 89% of respondents visiting supermarkets, dairies or other food retailers during the previous three months. Eating out was also incredibly popular, with 85% enjoying a meal, coffee or takeaway from a local hospitality business.
The Businesses People Love
When asked about their favourite Tawa businesses, respondents mentioned nearly one-third of all businesses within the Tawa Business Improvement District.
The most frequently mentioned favourites were:
New World Tawa
Tawa Books & Post
Urban Eatery
Sprig & Fern
The Borough
Golden Rose Nails
On average, respondents named more than three favourite businesses each, demonstrating both the variety available in Tawa and the strong connections people have with local businesses.
Good Service Matters More Than Ever
Convenience remains the main reason people choose to shop locally, with 84% selecting it as a key factor.
However, one of the most significant findings from this survey was the importance of good service.
An impressive 80% of respondents cited good service as one of their main reasons for using Tawa businesses, a substantial increase on previous surveys. Supporting local businesses (69%), parking (63%) and quality (55%) were also major factors.
Across the dozens of service stories shared, a common theme emerged: people remember businesses that make them feel welcome.
Regardless of if it was a staff member remembering a regular customer's coffee order, helping someone find the perfect gift, providing expert advice, or simply taking the time to have a friendly chat, respondents repeatedly highlighted the personal connections they experience when shopping locally.
Service Stars of the Survey
This survey generated an outstanding collection of positive customer service stories.
Businesses receiving multiple mentions included:
Golden Rose Nails
Tawa Books & Post
Sprig & Fern
New World Tawa
Indian Flavours
The Borough
Respondents praised friendly staff, personalised service, professionalism, reliability and businesses that consistently go above and beyond expectations.
One thing became very clear: customer service remains one of Tawa's greatest strengths.
What Businesses Would People Like to See?
We also asked respondents what types of businesses they would use if they were based in Tawa.
The strongest response was for more cafés and restaurants, followed by a garden centre, DIY and home improvement retailers, more op shops and children's entertainment options.
The continued demand for more hospitality options reflects the popularity of local dining and the important role eateries play in creating a vibrant town centre.
Home Renovations Reveal New Opportunities
A new question in the Autumn survey explored where people source products and services for home renovations and maintenance projects.
We found that 62% of respondents had completed some form of renovation, maintenance or improvement project in the past 12 months.
Interestingly, most of this spending occurred outside Tawa, particularly in Porirua. While several local building and home improvement businesses were mentioned, the findings suggest there is an opportunity to increase awareness of the skilled trades, suppliers and specialist services already available within Tawa.
Keeping more of this spending local could provide significant benefits for both residents and businesses.
Businesses People Want to Try
Several businesses stood out as places people had heard great things about but had not yet visited. Among the most frequently mentioned were:
Sprig & Fern
Madame Saigon
Skye Candles
Kinnari Thai Restaurant
These responses highlight the power of word-of-mouth recommendations and suggest there are still plenty of opportunities for locals to discover new favourites right here in Tawa. Here is hoping that the Taste of Tawa International Food Festival helps locals explore new eateries.
Try Tawa - Be our Guest Winner
Congratulations to Anjelia Black, winner of our Autumn Try Tawa Survey prize draw.
Anjelia was thrilled to receive a $100 New World Tawa gift card and was especially looking forward to sharing the win with her son when he returns home from university in Otago. Anjelia was presented with her prize by Tawa Business Group BID Manager Bernadette Pallister.
Thank you to Anjelia and everyone else who took the time to complete the survey.
Looking Ahead
The Autumn survey confirms that Tawa continues to thrive because of its combination of convenience, strong customer service, quality businesses and community spirit.
While hospitality and retail remain key drivers of local spending, the survey also highlighted opportunities to promote home improvement businesses, encourage people to try new businesses, and continue sharing the many positive customer experiences that make Tawa special.
Most importantly, your feedback shows that local businesses are not just places to shop – they are places where people feel welcomed, valued and connected.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Autumn Try Tawa survey and to the many businesses that continue to make Tawa such a great place to live, work and shop.
The Try Tawa Winter Survey goes live on 1 July and will be your final opportunity to tell us what you think about Tawa businesses. Your feedback helps us understand what's working well, identify opportunities for improvement, and continue supporting the businesses that make our community unique.
Everything you need is right here in Tawa – and through your feedback, you're helping shape its future.
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