Finally, someone gets it right! It’s official: I’ve found the most accessible public toilets in central Auckland, possibly even the world. Hmmm perhaps not the world, apparently in parts of Asia they have these ones where water sprays your bum when you’re done, and I think that’d be just spiffy. However, in lieu of public arse-sprays, here’s the rundown of one of the many Westfield shopping centres scattered across NZ, this one located in the sunny suburb of St Lukes.

Parking: There’s parking aplenty, in a seemingly endless number of carparks throughout the shopping centre. In my experience there’s always a free mobility parking space in the uncovered parking lot off Morningside Drive.

Entrance: This is a recently refurbished shopping mall so all the entrances are wonderfully level, some with gradual inclines but everything’s pretty spot-on; sliding doors, wooden floors, etc.

The mall: You can buy pretty much anything at St Lukes, from undies to suits to donuts to video games. They also have a cinema complex in one section, but more on that later. The mall has a steady gradient throughout, so more often than not, you’ll be either rolling down a gradual slope, or chugging your way up one. They also have mobility scooters and wheelchairs for hire at the information desk (which, oddly, is located quite a distance from any of the entrances!) They also have massive foodcourt, Santa visits, banks, etc.

Toilets: As I alluded to above, the toilets are fantastic. They:

• Are big (but not huge)
• Well set up, with handrails, accessible washbasin and a hand blow-drier
• You enter and exit them with the push of a button! (Take note, SkyCity Metro)
• Are well-signposted
• Are separate from the men’s and women’s bathrooms, meaning a support person of the opposite sex can help out without fear of embarrassment

The movies: The movies in St Lukes are a neat addition, but it’s just a pity the wheelchair-accessible entrance is so poorly designed. As you can see in the image to the right (taken on the way out of the cinema), you have to traverse this ramped corridor covered entirely by carpet! So when going uphill, on carpet, in the semi-dark, I can imagine this might cause a bit of a headache for some people! To their credit, Westfield St Lukes have the only ‘wheelchair counter’ I’ve ever seen at a cinema complex, which is at a much lower height and clearly signposted. Check out the gallery to see what I mean.

Check out this sign: (Click to see larger version) Look, I can appreciate when someone’s trying to look after my best interests by saying perhaps this travelator isn’t the ideal form of transportation to the upper mall level for a wheelchair user, but to put a picture of a wheelchair in a big red circle is pushing my usually understanding nature. St Lukes have nice big signs saying ‘LIFT’ and that’s wonderful, but hell, if I want to take the travelator, I’ll take it. Perhaps Westfield management should re-think their signage.

THE LOWDOWN:

• Lots of mobility parking spaces, easy to get into and out of the mall
• Top marks for the accessible bathrooms, should be an example to anyone wanting to implement a disabled toilet in their establishment
• Easy to get around, with the exception of the steep, dark, and carpeted entrance to the movies
• Great selection of shops, definitely something for everyone
• Overall accessibility rating: 4 / 5

Make sure you check out the gallery for all the pictures!