Everything Kāpiti e-newsletter

Between consultations on our draft Long-term Plan 2021-41 and the draft Wellington Regional Growth Framework, and opportunities for you to provide feedback on a growth strategy for Kāpiti coming up shortly, it's a very busy time.

We know there is a lot to take in but it is important we hear your views on the big issues and challenges we’re facing as a district and our proposed activities. Your feedback will help inform our decisions so get involved and have your say!

Ā tonā wā!

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A big shout out to our hardworking Parks and Recreation team who have been going hell for leather in recent weeks to prepare Kāpiti sportsgrounds for the winter season.

When competition begins this weekend sportspeople can be sure they're operating on some of the best turf in the region.

Meanwhile, the Major Events Fund is now open for applications and enquiry, and of course consultation on the Long-term Plan 2021-41 kicks off tomorrow.

We're committed to delivering excellent water services for our community so excuse us if we're nerdily excited about our new leak detection method, which you can read more about below. It involves drones and thermal imaging, so pretty cool stuff.

It's Easter this weekend (where is the year going?!) which means our hours are a bit different, and also signals seasonal changes to some of our services. Read on to see what's changing.

It's been a busy week around Kāpiti and there is plenty on the horizon too. Easter is just around the corner which is always a great time to take a break and catch your breath.

Neighbours' Day is now up and running and is the perfect opportunity to make those all-important connections in your community. After the year we've had, and of course recent rev ups from Mother Nature, we all know the value of being able to reach out to those closest to us. So get involved and have a cuppa over the fence.

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Despite some COVID-19 uncertainty in the lead up to Parks Week the 2021 edition has been a great success. We'd like to thank everyone who made it out to one or more of our events and contributed to creating an awesome vibe in our wonderful outdoor spaces.

Meanwhile, it definitely feels like the seasons are changing. Make the most of the longer nights and warmer temperatures while you can and get along to the next Music in the Parks concert - details below. You'll thank yourself in July!

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Last week's rumbles caught most New Zealanders by surprise but it was awesome to see impacted communities respond so quickly to the warning signs of a tsunami.

This week, we have a good refresher on what to do when you feel an earthquake that's long or strong, an update on the Blue Bluff slip and a week full of awesome community events in celebration of Parks Week 2021!

Our sudden move back to Alert Level 2 on Sunday was a good reminder that COVID-19 is still very much with us and an active risk. We know what to do now, we've done it before and we all have a responsibility to each other to do our bit.

Read on for more on our services, facilities and events at Alert Level 2, an update on our stormwater upgrades in Ōtaki, and the 'growing' success of our community shared garden!

It's another big week here at Council with our 2021 Community Grants Scheme opening for applications, an update on what Kāpiti Coasters told us matters most as we prepare the draft Long-term Plan 2021-41, and even more summer events to help you make the most of this glorious sunshine!

We hope you enjoyed your long Waitangi weekend, Kāpiti and made the most of our online commemorations and the fabulous summer events across our district.

This week in Everything Kāpiti, you can learn more about the upcoming review of our elected representation arrangements, our work to develop a Destination Management plan for Kāpiti and take a virtual tour of the proposed Gateway Centre.

The kids may be back to school this week but our summer fun is just getting started! This week, our Waitangi Day commemorations go virtual and there is plenty to keep you busy this weekend with the Ōtaki Kite Festival, a family pool party and our next Music in the Park event. A reminder that toxic algae has been spotted in the Waikanae river so be extra cautious when walking your furry friends in the area.

Ā tonā wā!

We have lots of exciting things coming up including a virtual Waitangi Day event, an open day at our Otaki wood recycling site, kids story times and aquafit classes and a series of free family-friendly events featuring local musicians in some of our parks and open spaces.  Read on to find out more...

With our schedule of summer events now in full swing, there is plenty to do and see this week. The recent sprinkling of stunning days has been a great reminder to be mindful of caring for our furry friends in the heat and around the water - read on for more tips! We are also asking for your ideas for the future of the Waikanae library. Let us know what’s important to you by following the link in the story below.
Ā tonā wā!

There’s a lot going on this month with our summer events kicking off in earnest this week. We’ve got Sports Play in the Park, Kids’ Aquafit, a Mitre10 Buggy Walk, Yoga by the Pool,  Kids’ Yoga in the Park and Paws in the Park – it’s really all happening in Kāpiti this week! Check out our Upcoming Council events page for more info and read on for other Kāpiti tips and reminders!

Ngā mihi o te tau hou – happy new year! We hope you’re having a relaxing time with friends and whānau, enjoying everything Kāpiti has to offer. Make sure you keep checking in on our Upcoming Council events page to keep in the know, and read on for more summer essentials around Kāpiti. Mā te wā!

We hope you’ve had a very Meri Kirihimete, and enjoyed time with your friends and whānau. There’s heaps to do around Kāpiti over this time so check out the upcoming events on our website. We’ve got lots for you this week on our facilities’ opening hours this week, and ways you can get involved around the district.
Mā te wā!

We have a lot to celebrate this week with the beginning of our Summer in Kāpiti campaign, our impressive number of dog registrations, and our clever tamariki learning about reducing their household waste. We even have a winner of our grab bag competition. Don't despair if you didn't win though as we have two more grab bags to give away.

We also have plenty of things that we need your help with. Read on to find out how you can have your say.

Mā te wā!

There's not a lot left of 2020 (only six weeks!), and we're starting to think about what 2021 might bring – relaxing at the beach with friends and whānau, barbecues, new ventures and adventures... If you're thinking about the future too, check out our What Matters Most? story and our pop-ups across the district over the next few weeks. What you tell us now will help shape our Long-term Plan, which lays out the mahi we intend to do over the next 20 years to reach our future aspirations. Make sure you have your say! Mā te wā – have a great week!

Wow there's been some wild weather out there! Summer will be here soon, right? If you're stuck inside, it's a great time to check out our stories about our What Matters Most? engagement for our upcoming Long-term Plan review, What Matters Most?; and get your submission in on the proposed Beach Bylaw before this Friday. Mā te wā – have a great week!

It's a great time of year to get out on our beautiful beaches, with not many people around. If you're lucky enough to be out there in the gentle spring rain, you might even have the beach all to yourself. Remember to keep an eye out for the endangered dotterels nesting on the sandspit by the Waikanae River – they're beautiful to watch (and their nests are very easy to stand on). Consultation on our Beach Bylaw is open until 13 November – read on for more on how to have your say, and all our other news. Mā te wā!

We hope you've had a fabulous long weekend – whether you dusted off the barbecue, got stuck into the garden or visited the Waikanae Pool (which opened for the summer on Sunday!), we hope you kept track of the three Ws – Where you went, When you went there and Who you met.

It's been a busy week, and we've lots to share with you – especially stories about our rangatahi (young people). It really feels like summer's on its way, with the Waikanae Pool and Raumati splashpad both opening this weekend, and even an E-bike taster this Thursday. Read on for all the details! Mā te wā!