GOVERNMENT

TRANSFORMATIVE + TRANSITIONAL APPROACH

There are several intersecting influences to the form and shape of future local government functions which may affect the future needs for space within the civic area. These include:

3 WATERS REVIEW

Stormwater, waste water and drinking (potable) water and how this is provided and regulated has been under review since 2017. The outcome of this review is pending, but government papers suggest that multiregional or regional models will perform best.

The influence of this is that Napier City Council may no longer have responsibility for delivering water services and so the civic administration space required by Council may be reduced in size from current. However, there is also potential that if there is a regional approach to water services then this may require a centralised regional facility (potentially in Napier) and this may require a bigger ‘office’ space in the city (potentially in the civic area).

RMA + LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHANGES

Central government is reviewing the Resource Management Act. It will result in three pieces of new legislation (Natural and Built Environment Act, Strategic Planning Act, Climate Change Adaptation Act). The Acts are pending, but will require regional strategies developed by mana whenua, and all levels of government to enable more efficient land and development markets to improve housing supply, affordability and choice, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. A single combined plan for each region is expected. The functions required to be undertaken by Napier City Council are likely to change. As above, this may reduce, or potentially increase the space requirements for work space.

DEMOCRACY

A key role of Council is to deliver services and functions to the community through a democratic process. The current precinct Council building internalises the functions of Council decision making - Council Chambers (where decisions are made) are not visible and hard to find. The building is currently imposing and much of Council’s function is delivered from within it. The civic space outside Council is ‘hard’ and scaled to giving the building presence rather than welcoming people onto it. There is no sense of mana whenua in this place.

Making the civic-ness of what happens within the area and its buildings reflective of mana whenua, more visible and accessible and interesting from the city centre and surrounding spaces would enhance the community understanding of the importance of the extensive positive work Council does.

The opportunity to distribute Council functions by a grouping of buildings to allow for a more permeable and dynamic experience, with more edges to see into, and potentially for Council people to be seen and actively moving through ground level public spaces as part of the community in their day to day public service.

Enabling both celebratory community events as well as protest is an important part of civic spaces to be provided for.

FIGURE 28: SEEING GOVERNANCE IN ACTION FIGURE 29: PROVIDING FOR COMMUNITY TOGETHERNESS