3 minute read
Now and for the future
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4 activities1 Location
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Now and for the future
Kia ora koutou, After a period of intensive community engagement, formal consultation, submissions hearings and careful
deliberations, Tauranga City now has a forward-thinking Long-term Plan (LTP) to guide its investment priorities and work programme across the next 10 years. Given the scale of investment proposed and the rates increases required to contribute to spending on new and improved community facilities and infrastructure, this could have been a contentious process. Generally speaking, this wasn’t the case. The Tauranga City Council commissioners met with around 2000 people, attended 34 community meetings and heard about 50 hours of oral submissions on the draft LTP, and most of the feedback we received was both positive and realistic. Let’s face it, no-one likes paying more rates, but they also don’t like substandard or non-existent community facilities, sitting in traffic jams, or having unaffordable property prices because there hasn’t been enough investment in opening up land for housing development. And, those are costs we’re all paying now as a result of years of underinvestment in our city. The support from the community has been heartening and I’d particularly like to thank the commercial sector because businesses face a very significant rise in their rates costs, as a result of an increase in the commercial differential rate. Business people generally have recognised that they need to pay a fairer share of the rating burden and developers will also contribute through staged increases in development contributions.
We’re all in this together, so now it’s time get on with the job – our city depends on it. Kia kaha,
Anne Tolley
Visit New Zealand’s yearround sunshine capital
Kia ora koutou, Whakatāne is fortunate to be the reigning sunshine capital of New Zealand and boasts a ‘best beach’ title – as voted by NZ Herald readers. So, it’s no secret that we’re a compelling summer destination. What some people may not be so familiar with is that we enjoy settled, sun-filled days right throughout the year – making spring the perfect time to visit. Our district has a number of hidden gems that many people in our neighbouring regions may not have heard
of, such as: Moutohorā Island, Ngā Tapuwae o Toi walking trails, Mataatua Wharenui, and there’s even Kiwi living in close proximity to our urban area. Outdoor activities also abound and include surfing, fishing, kayaking, water-skiing, walking trails, golf, glamping and cycling. With so much to see and do, Whakatāne is the ultimate post and pre-summer destination. The area is also growing and becoming increasingly popular as a place to live and work, especially for those tired of big-city life. Whakatāne proudly retains, and is protective of, its small-town feel, but with most of the conveniences you’d expect from a much larger place. We’ve just removed the hassle! Whakatāne District Council, with external funding support, is looking to invest in our town centre and riverfront areas, along with our satellite towns such as Edgecumbe, Matatā and Murupara. We see a really bright future ahead and encourage you to come visit our place – you might not want to leave. Kia kaha,
Judy Turner
