Why we are taking this approach

We have heard from the Kapiti community how important community facilities are:

  • to enable participation in a range of activities,

  • to bring the community together, and

  • to support community access, health and wellbeing.

Many of our community facilities are ageing and need investment to improve their condition or to make them functional for modern needs.

Money is getting tighter, not only at Council but across the various funders of community facilities.

All of this means we need to plan carefully, maximise our resources, and invest wisely to ensure the community has the right spaces, in the right places, and run in the right way.

Group of people swing dancing in a community hall

How are we developing the network approach?

Our work involves three parts.

Framework

To guide how the Council make decisions and invests in community facility provision.

Analysis

To understand how the community currently uses facilities, current performance and to identify gaps, issues or challenges for the future.

Action plan

To set out what the council needs to consider and investigate for the future.

The approach will not make decisions by itself. It will provide clear evidence on the priorities and guidance to help the Council make fair, consistent, and transparent decisions in the future.

When will it be developed?

We will be developing the framework between now and end of December 2026.

The analysis will be undertaken in four parts:

  1. Community engagement: starting in late October through to end of November

  2. Collection of data on current facilities from now until end of December

  3. Waikanae case study: to be completed early 2027

  4. District analysis: to be completed by mid 2027.

The Action Plan will be completed from mid-2027 to late 2027 and will involve a further round of community review of the draft.

When will you get the opportunity to have a say?

Look out for the community engagement which will be undertaken in late October 2026 to tell us about your use of community facilities.

Waikanae – the first case study for this work.

We chose Waikanae because there is strong community interest in Waikanae Beach Hall, and we want to provide more certainty as soon as possible.

This work also aligns with the opening of Te Ara Whetū, the new library hub for Waikanae, which includes several new community spaces.

The Waikanae case study will look at the full network of facilities available in Waikanae. This includes Council-owned buildings and spaces owned or run by others.

We will use this case study to understand how community needs in Waikanae can best be met now and in the future.

Community input in Waikanae

Community input will be an important part of the Waikanae case study.

There will be opportunities for people to share their views as the approach is developed.

Temporary closure of Waikanae Beach Hall

Waikanae Beach Hall is temporarily closed while this work is underway.

No decisions have been made about the long-term future of Waikanae Beach Hall.

Any permanent decision will follow the usual Council process and will use evidence gathered through this work.

We aim to identify a way forward for Waikanae Beach Hall by June 2027.

An outside image of Waikanae beach community hall

Project timeline

Date  Activity
July–December 2026 Develop the principles framework (what matters most when making decisions) and undertake Waikanae Case Study   
January 2027 Districtwide network assessment begins.  
Early 2027 Outcome of Waikanae Case Study, including clear direction for future community facilities in Waikanae 
End of 2027 Community Facilities Network Approach established.