New World Thorndon — Local services in North Island

This shop has good selection and range, and is in a convenient location, but are currently pushing a bad-faith campaign against making it safer for customers to get to their shop and other destinations by cycle

Uts very disappointing to see a supermarket delving into such debates with such poor misinformation.

I've ridden along these streets, including to visit this branch, and its very clear to me why most people wouldn't ride though this area, yet their arguments are based largely on how people get around this area currently. The quote "Nobody ever justified a bridge based on how many people swim across a river" springs to mind. Their only other argument is around the needs of the elderly and disabled community. I apologise if their work here is in good faith, but i havent seen any evidence they have engaged with this community, but there are so many examples where people assume what this community 'would obviously think' then just claim their support for disinformation campaigns. In my experience, elderly and disabled communities generally support improvements to walking and cycling, being the most accessible modes, and reduction in car dependence, being the most dangerous mode, but also generally support more safe transport choice, as with all their varying needs they can't all travel by the same mode. If one genuinely advocated these groups, they would of course campaign for more disabled car parking, rather than more general car parking.

EDIT A facinating response from New World, trying to discuise themselves with a claim of 'neutrality', especially given they have now begun legal action against this cycleway- a thin veiled charade, much like their offering of peace, while they work to perpetuate this street staying dangerous...

I try to avoid purchasing food and veges from supermarkets because they 'price gouge' the public. The local markets are where I normally shop for produce but this is not an option due to Covid. The Sunday before Covid I could purchase apples and green kiwifruit for 99 cents a KG. Broccoli was $1.50 a head etc. Covid 'week 1' and Broccoli at New World Thorndon was $2.99 a head, this week it's $3.49 a head.

Now the suppliers that use to sell directly at (or to) these markets have lost their ability to sell, which means this product is either being dumped, donated or purchased by Foodstuffs. Either way the price should not be going up (FYI your excuses about pricing doesn't stack up - this is 'local' produce, not goods that are likely to be impacted by supply chain issues).

On another matter related to your in store Covid protocols - I like the way you have set up your aisles for one way flow. What I do not like is the fact that some New World staff seem oblivious to this and are walking their trollies (with goods to re-stack the shelves) against the flow and in more than one case, blocking the ability of shoppers to move...

I love this New World and always have. Great bakery and there is always different produce there.

HOWEVER, today, I made a beeline for the bakery as I do when I go there. Waiting, waiting, waiting, no one comes to serve. So, push the bell and over walks the most SULLEN kid I have come across there. It was like I was interrupting his business. No greeting and just a general lack of customer service. When I accidentally tried to grab my pie before he'd stickered it (I don't go here often and treated it like other bakeries where you're able to take goods once they're in the bag) he said very tersely "I need to put the price on!" My God, the manners on this kid were just absolutely non-existent. It's like mate, you might've had a long day, but so have I. So, I was a bit immature and talked exactly the same way back. And when I asked for a couple of other items, he just gave them to me and then once again no acknowledgement and walked off to the next person, who he actually greeted. I have never been treated this way at Thorndon New World, so I won't adjust my review score, but that kid needs a lesson in...