On Monday November 20 Mike’s Breakfast and Lunch opened its doors for the first time at their new location, 350 North Main Street in Lakeport. The restaurant made the move from Lucerne to Lakeport after operating for four and a half years in their original location. Their move followed several others in the past few months, while some Lakeport businesses face closure and other projects seem stuck in limbo.
Pensioner Kevin Poppelwell feels betrayed and frustrated with the change in the village’s population. “We thought we’d come in here for a house, to live our last few days,” he said. But now he fears for his safety. “It’s because I feed the stray cats,” he said. Residents were initially unaware younger residents had been placed there on bail and thought Kāinga Ora had opened up the village to social housing. “I understand they’ve got to put them somewhere, but they should put them somewhere they can keep an eye on them,” Poppelwell said.
LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff