Mayors Memo

 

Kia ora

At least 300 years of service to Kaipara communities are recognised in the six Kaipara Citizens Awards recipients recently announced. From an exceptional group of nominees put forward from across the district, the Citizens celebrated this year are: Christine Bygrave, Terri Donaldson, Noelene Gatehouse, Bryce Gatehouse, Norma Ker and Haki Wihongi. Congratulations again to these Kaipara Citizens who make such extraordinary contributions to life here, who generously give and have given so much for so many years and make that giving look effortless. Thank you for showing us the way.

Also part of the way ahead for Council is the upcoming Te Hana to Whangarei route protection work for the alternative State Highway 1 through Kaipara. While the exact route is yet to be determined, I reckon a new route could likely run to the west of Topuni and Kaiwaka, crossing the current SH12 near the dairy factory at Maungaturoto and then heading out of Kaipara west of the Brynderwyns through Gorge Rd towards Waipu.

NZTA will be leading this planning next year, and Council is preparing the way for working with communities to incorporate the route into the next District Plan, with zoning for development land and new, safe road connections for settlements and communities along with protection of environmental values, key features and valuable soils as priorities. There’s much to be done here, and Council is preparing thoroughly so we get right this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Getting right our ‘welcome mat’ is of increasing importance around Kaipara District. Recent Statistics NZ figures have Kaipara as the fastest growing district in the North Island, at 3.1% population increase. As more people get wise to what’s great about living in Kaipara, we can all expect to be joined by new residents, have further positive population growth and see more welcome mats being rolled out.

As a final note, please remember to join the People’s Panel that’s been rolling out in recent weeks at kaipara.govt.nz/panel. We’ll have some interesting ideas coming soon to the People’s Panel for their feedback and every local is welcome to be part of it! At last count I heard 300 Kaipara citizens have signed on so far, which is about the same number as the years our Citizens Awards winners have put in to making Kaipara great.

While that’s a handy coincidence for now, I expect we’ll soon have at least 1000 on our People’s Panel. Please join us today and let the good times roll.

Nga mihi

Jason 

PS. If you don’t recognise me around the District in coming weeks it’s not because I’m in disguise – it’s because I’m growing a moustache for Movember to raise money to stop men dying young.