What matters most? Long-term Plan 2021–41

'What matters most?' is now closed. You can read a summary of key themes and view all community feedback below.

The Long-term Plan

The Long-term Plan is one of Council’s most important strategic documents. It’s a big deal because it lays out the work we intend to do over the next 20 years. It details the planned activities, services and projects, how much things are likely to cost and how we plan to pay for them.

All councils are mandated to produce a Long-term Plan every three years, this includes consulting with the community on priorities.

What matters most: Key themes

In late 2020, over 200 Kāpiti Coasters responded to our four What matters most questions. Council is using these responses to help inform decisions as it prepares the draft Long-term Plan 2021-41 for formal consultation.

The four questions were:

1. What matters most as we plan for our district's future?
2. What matters most in your Neighbourhood?
3. What matters most in your community as we navigate through this global pandemic (COVID-19)?
4. What matters most as we experience growth across the district?

A wide range of issues and ideas were raised with key themes evident across the four questions, including:

• Libraries are more than just books

Libraries are important to our communities. As well as books, they provide an essential space for people to meet and connect. There is strong demand for a new community library in Waikanae.

• A smart and savvy Council that works with the community for the community:

It is important that Council is cautious with spending, especially given the growth the district is experiencing. There is a desire for Council to be more transparent and open, and to communicate and consult more meaningfully with Iwi, stakeholders and the wider community through multiple channels.

• Our environment needs help, we need to act now

Protecting our environment and wildlife is top of mind for many, with some wanting to see Council make a greater effort especially in its response to climate change.

• Connected communities

There is a real sense of community connectedness and pride in our district and it’s clear through responses that people care for each other. People are looking to Council to help strengthen and foster this connectedness, as well as build community resilience.

• Infrastructure matters

From providing clean drinkable water, to better roading and more accessible footpaths, people feel maintaining, managing and improving infrastructure is what matters most, especially as our population grows.

• Plan for quality growth

It is important that Council plans for quality growth, particularly in relation to increasing housing stock and climate change. This needs to be balanced with insuring our existing infrastructure is effectively maintained, managed and expanded as we grow.

• The airport is an asset

Many commented on the importance of keeping our airport. There was a plea for Council to do more to ensure it remains open for business.

• People can no longer afford to live here

A lack of affordable housing is a concern to many. There is particular concern for those residents who can no longer afford to live here, forced to leave the district. People feel Council could be playing a more active role in working with central government, iwi and other parties in finding solutions.

• Parks, Playgrounds and open spaces

Our parks and open spaces are appreciated and well used. There is a desire for new spaces, as well as improvements, maintenance and protection of existing parks and open spaces

To view all community feedback click on the tab of interest below, then click 'view all ideas' or search the map.

Note: responses collected through community events and drop boxes located at libraries and Council service centres are shown under the name “Community voices”. We have included these for transparency and reporting purposes.