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After extensive engagement with mana whenua, iwi, stakeholders, and the community, we identified key strategic opportunities to guide Waipā’s growth. These opportunities are centred on land-use management, housing affordability, environmental stewardship, enhancing community resilience, improving transport infrastructure, and fostering economic growth across the district.

To bring these opportunities to life, we have developed five implementation packages. These packages of activities will be delivered progressively in stages. The timeframes reflect the strategic and transformational nature of the initiatives, ensuring a phased and well-coordinated approach considering Council’s financial constraints. The activities align with Waipā’s vision to build connected communities.

Ahu Ake on a map

Future development and housing package

Why do we need this package?

By 2055, Waipā is expected to welcome 22,000 new residents who will require adequate housing, employment opportunities, educational facilities, and recreational spaces. Council must effectively accommodate this growth by closely aligning infrastructure and planning with development opportunities across the district. The activity in this package aims to facilitate high-quality growth outcomes that reflect Waipā’s authentic places and people.

What will we work towards?

This package will support the delivery of the following strategic opportunities identified in the plan:

  • Land use management and housing affordability

    Improve housing affordability and choice to meet evolving community needs and ensure housing developments and economic activities take place in appropriate areas.

  • Critical community infrastructure

    Maintain Waipā's quality of lifestyle while meeting the changing needs of both an ageing population and a growing youth demographic.

  • Local & regional economic development & resilience

    Optimise social and economic benefits in towns and villages by taking a place-based approach to community planning to balance traffic levels and pedestrian amenities.

  • Environmental & cultural stewardship

    Foster a sense of belonging and cultural continuity for all members of our community by actively promoting and safeguarding the district's rich cultural heritage – including its expression through natural features like the Waikato and Waipā rivers.

How do we propose to achieve this?

In the short term (0-3 years) Council will:

  • Review and implement: Growth Strategy (i.e., Waipā 2050).
  • Ongoing activities beginning in the short term: update the Housing Strategy and Implementation Plan, District Plan changes, monitoring and reporting of Village and Town Concept Plans, Three Waters Masterplan review and implementation.

In the medium term (3-10 years), Council will:

  • Develop and implement a Heritage Asset Master Plan.

Placemaking package

Why do we need this package?

Council recognises the importance of strong and well-connected rural and urban communities to benefit our residents. We need to create and maintain vibrant, active places that showcase the district and its people. By taking a comprehensive approach to placemaking, Council, working with project collaborators, will play a pivotal role in coordinating further investments in community infrastructure and activation (such as public arts and events) that attract high-quality businesses and employees who want to invest, live, and work in the Waipā district.

What will we work towards?

This package will support the delivery of the following strategic opportunities identified in the plan:

  • Critical community infrastructure

    Maintain Waipā's quality of lifestyle while meeting the changing needs of both an ageing population and a growing youth demographic.

  • Local & regional economic development & resilience

    Optimise social and economic benefits in towns and villages by taking a place-based approach to community planning to balance traffic levels and pedestrian amenities.

  • Environmental & cultural stewardship

    Foster a sense of belonging and cultural continuity for all members of our community by actively promoting and safeguarding the district's rich cultural heritage – including its expression through natural features like the Waikato and Waipā rivers.

What’s included in this package?

In the medium term (3-10 years), Council will:

  • Develop a Placemaking Strategy and an Implementation Plan.
  • Review Urban design guidelines for towns and villages in the district.
  • Develop Te Ao Māori Design Principles in partnership with mana whenua and iwi.

Strategic Framework package

Why do we need this package?

Council must effectively work towards positive and lasting environmental, economic, transportation, and climate change outcomes. To do this Council must establish defined and clear directions for future investments and partnership. This will help the Council to reduce risks and allocate resources efficiently in the long run.

What will we work towards?

These activities will be measured against the achievement of the following strategic opportunities:

  • Land use management and housing affordability

    • Improve towns and villages by planning based on community needs, balancing traffic and creating good walking spaces.
    • Boost local economic growth to provide jobs for residents and Māori communities. Use local markets, farming, and tourism focused on culture and the environment to create quality jobs.
    • Strengthen regional economic development by focusing on key industries. This will make the economy stronger, create new job chances for older workers, and support young people entering the workforce.

  • Critical community infrastructure

    • Improve community resilience and wellbeing by maintaining high-quality community infrastructure, including lifeline utilities, and adapting to climate change.
    • Maintain Waipā's quality of lifestyle while meeting the changing needs of both an ageing population and a growing youth demographic.

  • Environmental & cultural stewardship

    Foster a sense of belonging and cultural continuity for all members of our community by actively promoting and safeguarding the district's rich cultural heritage – including its expression through natural features like the Waikato and Waipā rivers.

  • Integrated transport and freight management

    • Prioritise local walking and cycling options when relevant and possible and strengthen existing and future regional connections with a comprehensive, safer, multi-modal transport system.
    • Safeguard the freight function of key transport corridors and integrate major transport infrastructure (i.e., airports, inland ports, freight hubs) with the development of our towns and villages in a symbiotic way.

What’s included in this package?

In the short term (0-3 years) Council will:

  • Develop an Economic Wellbeing Strategy and Programme [underway]
  • Develop a Climate Change Strategy [underway]

In the medium term (3-10 years), Council will:

  • Review the Transport Strategy
  • Review the Environment Strategy and Implementation Plan

Community Places package

Why do we need this package?

In the next 30 years, we anticipate that 90 per cent of Waipā's population will reside in urban areas (towns and villages), a 20 per cent increase from the current numbers. Community facilities such as community halls, libraries, museums, sports fields, and aquatic facilities play a crucial role in meeting the diverse needs of both urban and rural residents.

We also need to ensure that all individuals feel a sense of belonging in those places by aligning customary practices with present and future needs. The role of these communities’ facilities and spaces will evolve to e

What will we work towards?

This package will support the delivery of the following strategic opportunities identified in the plan:

  • Critical community infrastructure

    • Improve community resilience and wellbeing by maintaining high-quality community infrastructure, including lifeline utilities, and adapting to climate change.
    • Maintain Waipā's quality of lifestyle while meeting the changing needs of both an ageing population and a growing youth demographic.

  • Local & regional economic development & resilience

    Optimise social and economic benefits in towns and villages by taking a place-based approach to community planning to balance traffic levels and pedestrian amenities.

  • Environmental & cultural stewardship

    Foster a sense of belonging and cultural continuity for all members of our community by actively promoting and safeguarding the district's rich cultural heritage – including its expression through natural features like the Waikato and Waipā rivers.

What’s included in this package?

In the medium term (3-10 years), Council will:

  • Conduct a Parks and Public Facilities Needs Assessment for Future Direction to identify the level of service and investment needed.
  • Review needs for multi-cultural funeral facilities, including urupā facilitation.

Karāpiro Programme package

Why do we need this package?

Karāpiro village and its community are currently experiencing severance issues with the community being separated by the dam and the expressway. The expressway's pathway and location could potentially open new opportunities for development around Karāpiro, within and/or beyond existing growth areas.

By aligning these opportunities arising from existing and planned programmes of works around the Karāpiro Village, we can maximise investment benefits and ensure Council, mana whenua / iwi, and the Karāpiro community are fully involved.

By enhancing Karāpiro's accessibility to surrounding areas, Council would facilitate improved movement for residents, visitors, and businesses

What will we work towards?

This package will support the delivery of the following strategic opportunities identified in the plan:

  • Local & regional economic development & resilience

    • Optimise social and economic benefits in towns and villages by taking a place-based approach to community planning to balance traffic levels and pedestrian amenities.
    • Enhance economic development to provide local opportunities for working-age residents and Mana Whenua and Iwi by leveraging market connections, the land based primary sector, Māori economy, and heritage/ environmental tourism to facilitate high-quality job creation.

  • Environmental & cultural stewardship

    • Preserve biodiversity and support ecosystem services by protecting and restoring the district’s natural environment.
    • Foster a sense of belonging and cultural continuity for all members of our community by actively promoting and safeguarding the district's rich cultural heritage – including its expression through natural features like the Waikato and Waipā rivers.

  • Critical community infrastructure

    Improve community resilience and wellbeing by maintaining high-quality community infrastructure, including lifeline utilities, and adapting to climate change.

What’s included in this package?

In the medium term (3-10 years), Council will:

  • Prepare a Lake Karāpiro Destination Management Plan.
  • Investigate Karāpiro Village Connections - severance issues caused by the dam and the expressway.