Main shopping streets are losing their retail stores, a problem that was around before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The likes of Browns Bay in Auckland and Gisborne are suffering. Tauranga's CBD has over 100 empty store.

Urban planner James Lunday believes the 'high street' has an opportunity to resurrect itself, but with change.

He says many factors contributed to the downfall of single shops before the coronavirus.

"Use of the car, convenience of the large shopping complexes, all these things we know contributed to it.

"We lost the little local stores, the butcher, the bakers, the candlestick makers.

"I think all Covid has done is accelerated the change."

Mr Lunday adds we still need our high streets and main streets.