Council asks for help to see the bigger picture on community facilities

From halls and libraries to clubrooms and public toilets, community facilities are part of everyday life across Kāpiti. Now, Kāpiti Coast District Council wants to hear from the community as it develops a new approach to planning and investing in these spaces.

Group Manager Customer and Community Brendan Owens says the Community Facilities Network Approach will help shape the future of community spaces by considering what’s already available across the district, including those provided by clubs, churches, schools and community organisations.

To support this, Council is launching a small suite of surveys to understand which facilities people use (or don't use), what works well, what could be better and what's important for the future.

“It's not just Council-owned buildings. We want to hear about use of all facilities where community activities are undertaken and that’s about much more than bricks and mortar,” says Mr Owens.

"Whether you're browsing a weekend market at your local hall, playing basketball with your mates on an indoor court or grateful for a public toilet when you really need one, these spaces are an important part of daily life.

"We hear all the time how important community facilities are. They bring people together and help make Kāpiti a great place to live. We want to understand how people use them and what our communities might need in the future."

Group Manager Infrastructure and Asset Management Sean Mallon says the approach is about helping make smart decisions with limited resources.

"Like many communities across New Zealand, we're facing ageing facilities, changing community needs and increasing costs across the board.

"This work is about making sure every dollar counts, we need our Mayor and Councillors to be able to make informed, fair and consistent decisions about where and how we invest in community facilities.

"Rather than looking at buildings one at a time, we want to look at the bigger picture to understand how all facilities are working together to meet community needs, and how we might be able to deliver even better outcomes or fill gaps now and into the future."

Council will develop a draft framework to guide future decisions by the end of 2026, followed by a Waikanae case study which will test and refine the framework. A full district-wide analysis will be completed in 2027.

Mr Owens encourages everyone to have their say in the surveys, including people who rarely or never use community facilities.

"Whether you use these spaces every week or not at all, your feedback matters. We need to understand what's missing and what might be stopping people from using these facilities. We're also very keen to hear from rangatahi and tamariki, as they'll be using our facilities today and for many years to come."

There are two community surveys – the main survey about all the facilities people use (or don't use), and another for feedback on specific facilities.

A separate survey for facility providers will also gather information about their facilities, how they operate, the services they provide, and the opportunities and challenges they see for the future.

Surveys close 11:59pm Sunday 29 November 2026.

Visit haveyoursay.kapiticoast.govt.nz/CommunityFacilities to learn more.