Whakatāne District Council is encouraging residents to join the conversation as work gets underway to develop the 2024-34 Long Term Plan.

‘Let’s Keep Moving: Whaia tonuhia’ not only sets Council’s priorities and direction but will carry the thoughts and aspirations of our communities and turn them into action.

General Manager Strategy and Transformation Steven Perdia says Council is eager to kick things off early and use this time to talk to communities as a ‘pulse check’ before formal consultation early next year.

“There’s no denying we’re living in a time of extraordinary inflationary and affordability pressures, so it’s important we sharpen the pencil on our focus areas and aspirations for the District’s future.

“It’s our communities’ opportunity to share their thoughts on what they want their future District to look like.” Mr Perdia says. 

The first phase includes a short online survey designed to be a check-in and is based on five priority areas (Climate Change, environment, economy, working with Iwi, and social) and encourages people to highlight areas most important to them. 

“We know Council will need to make some hard decisions, balancing investment with affordability, while ensuring we keep up our momentum and focus on what is most important to the people of the Whakatāne District.” 

But Council insists changes to the economic conditions within which Council is operating can also be good. 

“Change is good. It prompts and demands a fresh way of thinking and opens other opportunities for long-term good.

The Mayor and Councillors are really keen to hear from people so I strongly encourage everyone to participate in this process and have a voice, so we can keep working on creating District everyone wants,” Mr Perdia says.

Feedback is open until Monday 5 June with the online survey only takes a couple minutes to complete.

To have your say visit koreromai.whakatane.govt.nz/lets-keep-moving