Kāpiti Coast Mayor Janet Holborow says it’s time for an honest conversation about what Council should prioritise as it prepares its next Long-term Plan (LTP).
Mayor Holborow says this week Council kicked off Prioritise Kāpiti, the first stage of the LTP engagement.
“It’s important to me, and to all Councillors, that we start having Long-term Plan conversations early and make sure our priorities are right from the get-go.
“This isn’t about starting with a long wish list,” says Mayor Holborow. “It’s about understanding what we are legislated to do, what matters most to our communities, where Council should focus its efforts, and the trade-offs people might be willing to accept.”
“We’re proposing eight district-wide priorities, from water and land use through to housing, health, and working with others. I encourage everyone to take a look and tell us whether we’ve got them right.
“We’re also testing five planning principles for this Long-term Plan. These include living within our financial limits, prioritising the must-dos, and adopting a user-pays approach where it makes sense.
Mayor Holborow said Council was approaching this LTP a little differently and had established councillor-led engagement and finance focus groups to help guide the development of the LTP and supporting policies.
Councillor Rob McCann, chair of the engagement focus group, said it was important for Council to be clear about the challenges ahead and understand what people value before it started to lock in priorities.
“Our community has been clear with us that rate rises have been too high, and most councillors agree.
“The reality is we simply can’t afford to do everything, and we know every budget decision affects people differently,” says Councillor McCann. “This will require us to carefully balance investment and make hard choices about what Council can and can’t continue to deliver.
“Prioritise Kāpiti is the start of a conversation about what Council should prioritise ahead of formal consultation on its LTP early next year.”
Irrespective of where the Government’s Simplifying Local Government reform lands, Council is required to work to current legislation and produce a LTP every three years. The LTP sets out what Council will deliver over the next decade, with a sharp focus on the first three years and the likely impact on rates.
Mayor Holborow said while there is a lot of uncertainty across the local government sector, Council is still required to plan for the district’s future.
“The LTP is the tool that sets out our activities and budgets and enables the delivery of our people, place, and partnership community outcomes.
“Whether you’ve lived here for decades or have recently made Kāpiti home, we all see things differently,” says Mayor Holborow. “That’s why we need to hear from a wide range of voices as we shape the future of our district together.”
Kāpiti Coast residents are encouraged to complete the Council’s online survey and view details of upcoming opportunities to speak directly with Councillors at haveyoursay.kapiticoast.govt.nz.
Feedback closes on 26 July 2026.
