Annual dog registrations now open at the Kāpiti Coast District Council

The Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Animal Management team is reminding the community that it’s dog registration time and registration packs have been sent out to dog owners in the post and via email.  

Between now and 31 July, it’s easier than ever to register and pay for your canine companion. New for the 2019-2020 registration period, the Council’s hosting a series of dog registration pop-ups around Kāpiti where owners can register their dogs and receive new tags on the spot, as well as get more information about what registration costs cover and why they’re so important.  

Dog owners can also register and pay through the Council’s online payment portal or in-person at any of Council’s service centres. 

Owners who pay on time will go into a draw to win one of three registration refunds. 

For a full dog fee schedule and a pop-up event schedule, see the Council website https://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/dog-registration

-KCDC

Kāpiti creative funds on offer again

The second round of this year’s Creative Communities Scheme funding grants offered through Creative NZ and the Kāpiti Coast District Council has just opened.

“The grants support arts activities that celebrate Kāpiti culture, community involvement and our diversity, particularly youth and Toi Māori,” Acting General Manager Place and Space for the Council, Ian Littleworth says.

“We’re asking again for the arts community to tell us their inspiring ideas for activities that bring our community together to celebrate the special nature and breadth of our arts scene here on the Coast.”

The funding round earlier this year saw fourteen grants totally $22,200 made for events that included classical concerts, workshops on Samoan dance, traditional Ngā Toi Māori whakapapa quilting, and Taiko drumming, interactive theatre for young people and children’s puppet theatre.

Applications for projects to start after 29 August this year close Friday 19 July 2019. Council’s Grants Allocation Committee (Creative Communities) makes the funding decisions on 29 August.

About the scheme

Creative New Zealand set the criteria, and provide the standard application form and guide.

The three main funding criteria are:

1.       Broad community involvement – the project will create opportunities for our local communities to engage with and participate in arts activities.

2.       Diversity – The project will support the diverse arts and cultural traditions of our local communities, enriching and promoting their uniqueness and cultural diversity.

3.       Young people – The project will enable and encourage young people (under 18 years) to engage with and actively participate in the arts.

-KCDC

Annual Plan 2019/20 for Kāpiti published

The complete Annual Plan document outlining what Kāpiti Coast District Council will work on in the next financial year has been released. The plan is available online from today and will be in Council’s service centres in the coming weeks.

Starting 1 July, the 2019/20 plan includes budgets and key focus areas ranging from water treatment upgrades to community facility renewals.

Kāpiti residents will see major work progressed across the District in 2019/20, particularly around further strengthening of the District’s water supply and roading networks.

The new budgets mean an average 4.8 per cent rates increase across the District.  This works out at an average increase of $2.73 per week per household. Actual increases will depend on the value, location and type of property.

The plan follows the direction set out in the Council’s 2018-38 Toitu Kāpiti Long Term Plan for a sustainable future for everyone in the Kāpiti Coast community.

Mayor K Gurunathan said the plan is a great result because it means Council can continue progressing the priorities that came out of the community engagement and consultation to set its direction as part of the 2018-38 Long Term Plan development.

“We are keenly aware that affordability is an issue for many in our District, and we’ve worked hard to keep the rates increase as low as possible,” he said.

Ratepayers can visit the Council’s website to get an indicator of what their new rates will be. Final rates are scheduled to be struck at a Council meeting on 27 June.

www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/annualplan2019

-KCDC

Speed limit changes confirmed for Kāpiti local roads

The Kāpiti Coast District Council has confirmed new speed limits for 47 rural roads and three village centres (Paekākāriki, Raumati South and Raumati Beach) in Kāpiti, following community consultation earlier this year on Stage 2 of a districtwide review.

Council’s Group Manager Infrastructure Services Sean Mallon says the review was in response to public requests for particular roads to have their speed limits looked at by Council, and aims to make roads in Kāpiti safer and more efficient.

“This review has been all about achieving speed limits that reflect the form and function of their road network and importantly, make it safer for all road users,” he says.

The roads under review were assessed and new limits proposed on the basis of safety risk, the road environment including land development, speed limits on adjoining roads and any changes on those roads since original speed limits were set. Council also took into account national rules and guidelines for speed limits administered by the NZ Transport Agency. This was the second and final consultation in the review, which began in mid-2017 with Stage 1, and saw speed limit changes brought in for 36 roads across Kāpiti. 

Mr Mallon thanks everyone who’d contributed to and made comments or submissions on the proposed changes. That included residents, Community Boards, the Police, the NZ Transport Agency, the Automobile Association, Kapiti Cycling Action, the Road Transport and Heavy Haulage associations.

“We received 224 submissions, which showed majority support for each of the proposed speed limit changes. We know there will be some who don’t agree with the decision, but this is ultimately about safety and helping people move around our district for efficiently.” 

The full list of speed limit changes and the rationale can be found on the Council’s website. Council will be in touch with submitters and residents with the details of the final changes.

It’s expected that the new limits take effect from mid-July 2019.

About other speed limit reviews:

The Council’s review of local roads is separate from NZ Transport Agency’s speed limit review of old SH1 roads between Raumati and Peka Peka, which is part of their SH1 revocation work.

-KCDC

Fourteen Kāpiti venues in Wellington on a Plate

This August’s Wellington on a Plate event sees Kāpiti venues out in force with fourteen venues offering special menus, cocktails or events. There are 9 burger, 5 dine and 3 cocktail menus on offer.

There are also six special Kāpiti-flavoured events, including local producers venues, Nga Manu Nature Reserve and a Kāpiti Island boat trip with lunch.

As part of the event’s push to bring a more regional focus to the programme this year, the WoAP website features a Kapiti-only section www.visawoap.com/kapiti launched this month. 

Council supports the popular annual event as part of its economic development programmes.

-KCDC

Applications for rates support in Kāpiti close 30 June

Council is reminding ratepayers on low incomes, or families with high water rates and two or more dependents who receive Working for Families tax credits, that government or Council assistance may be available to help pay some of their rates. Around 2000 Kāpiti households receive this support each rating year. 

Kāpiti is one of three Districts trialling online applications for the government subsidy for the first time this year, through the Department of Internal Affairs. Applications to the Council, for people who haven’t already applied for the rating year ending 30 June, are open online or by completing a form until the end of this month. 

Information on who might qualify and how to make an application is on the Council website www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/ratesrebates or the DIA site at www.govt.nz/getrebate

-KCDC

Council to improve safety of Waikanae Beach intersection

Waimea & Te Moana Intersection - Photo: Tony Cutting (Kapiti Now)

The Council is responding to calls from the community to improve the safety of a busy intersection in Waikanae Beach, where Te Moana Road meets with Ono Street and Waimea Road.   

“It’s a busy intersection and an important connection point for this part of Waikanae Beach. We’re taking steps to make it as safe as possible for the many motorists, pedestrians and cyclists who go through it every day,” says Kāpiti Coast District Council Group Manager Infrastructure Services, Sean Mallon. 

“The works will include establishing pedestrian crossing points, kerb realignments, improved road markings and better footpath connections on the corners of Waimea Road.” 

Mr Mallon says concerns have been raised with the Council about increasing traffic volumes passing through the intersection in recent years. 

“It’s a popular crossing spot for pedestrians and can get very busy during rush hour, so we’re making these improvements now to reduce the risk of accidents happening in the future.”  

“The crossing points, road markings and kerb realignment will increase visibility on the intersection, for both pedestrians and motorists, and help to stem the speed of traffic.  

“We’ll be starting work on the upgrades next week and expect they’ll take about two months, subject to weather.  

“Traffic management will be in place throughout the improvement works so we urge people to allow a little extra time for their journey and to take care when passing through the intersection.”

-KCDC

Greater Wellington Regional Council must declare a Climate Change Emergency

Photo by Agustín Lautaro on Unsplash

Media release by Mayor K Gurunathan Wednesday 12th June 2019 

Greater Wellington Regional Council must declare a Climate Change Emergency given their release of a new report predicting significant sea level rise and storm surge impacts on the region's coastal residential and commercial properties. 

On Monday morning GW's Facebook posted an alert for the public to view its report "Sea level rise and storm surge modelling" published on its council website. Given the significant impacts predicted by this modelling it will be remiss of GW if it does not declare a Climate Change Emergency. 

The public alert comes as a surprise as the regional mayors had not been briefed and Kapiti had made it clear that KCDC councillors had to be briefed first plus we had requirements to brief two of our coastal interest groups early. 

Now that GW has made it public, it has a responsibility to underpin the dire predictions of the modelling by making a declaration of Climate Change Emergency. And immediately activate its responsibility to fund its share of the community-led coastal adaptation process. We have already made a submission to GW's Annual Plan for this funding and look forward to GW supporting our vulnerable coastal communities. GW is the key consenting authority for coastal defensive structures. 

Kāpiti Coast District Council, which is facing significant climate change related coastal erosion, inundation and inland flooding, has already declared a Climate Change Emergency on 23 May. We have also committed the organisation to be Carbon Neutral by 2025. 

I look forward to a positive response from GW chair Chris Laidlaw and his councillors.

-KCDC

Council seeking public input on future of open spaces

The Council is calling on Kāpiti communities to get involved in shaping the future of our District’s open spaces including parks, sports fields, reserves, the local environment, playgrounds and trails.   

“We’ve just completed the first round of consultation on a refresh of our Open Space Strategy, which will set out Council’s priorities in managing our District’s open spaces over the next 30 years,” says Kāpiti Coast District Council Parks & Recreation Manager, Alison Law.  

“We gathered a lot of feedback from our stakeholders and the community via workshops and an initial survey, asking people what they like about our open spaces and what they’d like to see from them in the future.  

“That information, combined with other research, has been collated into an Issues and Opportunities paper. We’d like people to visit our website, read through it, and let us know if we’ve got it right. 

“We know people care passionately about our open spaces, so please get involved and help us build a strategy that delivers for Kāpiti Coast communities, the environment and our future.”  

The Issues and Opportunities paper and a short survey will be open for feedback on the Council’s website until the end of June.

-KCDC

Youth Development Centre makes shortlist for national local government awards

The Kāpiti Coast District’s new Youth Development Centre built in partnership with Zeal Education Trust is a finalist in this year’s Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) EXCELLENCE awards in the Social Wellbeing category.  

Kāpiti Coast District Council Deputy Mayor Janet Holborow says that the Youth Development Centre is the result of many years’ collaborative vision, planning, and hard work, and is pleased that it is being recognised.  

“The Council has been a supporter of the Youth Development Centre’s creation since 2013, but its inception was absolutely a youth-led initiative that would never have been realised without the generous support of local businesses and the Kāpiti community. They all recognised that our District needed a safe place for youth to meet, learn, and grow and worked hard to make the Youth Development Centre a reality.” 

“The Centre’s model is tailored to the needs of young people in our geographically and culturally distinctive communities – it’s outwardly focused with satellite services offered around our communities with existing organisations. The end goal is to enhance social wellbeing by supporting young people develop skills, fostering whanaungatanga, and providing safe youth gatherings. It works,” Ms Holborow says.  

The partnership developed with young people is unique. Young people participated in Council briefings and the design and delivery of engagement and consultation. The Council supported its youth council to raise awareness of the Long Term Plan consultation on the Youth Development Centre among young people which achieved over 300 youth submissions in support. Young people were involved in the advisory group and on the procurement panel alongside the Council and community leaders. 

Zeal General Manager David Orchard says the Youth Development Centre has positively changed the face of the Kāpiti Coast community by offering a wide variety of programming.  

“The Centre directly addresses the specific needs of our District’s young people. It was built using strategies they developed themselves and engaged the wider community. It was conceived by them, designed by them, and now that it’s operational, it’s the youth who use it. It’s a powerful formula that is leading Kāpiti Coast’s youth strongly into the future.” 

Category winners will be announced at a gala dinner during the LGNZ Conference, to be held in Wellington on 8 July 2019.

-KCDC

Field lights and drainage transform Mazengarb into top winter sports training facility

Mazengarb Reserve sportsfields will be a top location for winter sports this year, following recent drainage upgrades and an installation of field lights over the next few weeks. 

“Late last year we upgraded the drainage on a number of the fields to improve the standard of the fields in wet weather,” says Alison Law, Parks and Recreation Manager. 

“Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be installing LED lights on the field next to Mazengarb Road to allow more evening training to take place. We’ll also be adding two sets of lights on the main playing fields.” 

Ms Law says the sportsfield upgrades are to further enhance Mazengarb Reserve as a great location for winter sports and other recreational activities.  

“We’re expecting to see a lot more winter sport at the Reserve this year as there’s a need for dedicated well lit training grounds in the District. We’re pleased we are able to provide this facility to our local clubs.” 

“Next year we’re upgrading the children’s playground. We’ve already completed the first stage of our community consultation, so watch this space.”

-KCDC

Registrations open for 2019 Kāpiti PopUp Business School

Following on from the success of the inaugural Kāpiti PopUp Business School in 2018, the free ten-day business course is coming to Paraparaumu again in 2019.  

Budding business people living or working in Kāpiti will get the chance to learn practical ways to get a business idea off the ground, thanks to the support of the Kāpiti Coast District Council, Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA), and the Ministry for Social Development (MSD).

Mayor K Gurunathan believes this is an opportunity not to be missed, and will help Kāpiti continue to grow and thrive.

“We’re very excited to be a big part of bringing this opportunity to Kāpiti again this year because it’s all about supporting business growth and creating jobs.”

“We had a great turn out last year with an average of 55 people coming along each day to the course, and we’ve seen some exciting new businesses popping up across Kāpiti as a result. Over 60% of participants have either started, or are in the process of starting a business,” says Mayor K Gurunathan.

“We know there are people out there with great business ideas who just need some extra confidence and skills to help them tap into their potential to get out there and start-up.”  

“We have around 5000 business units registered in Kāpiti, many of which are sole operators/self-employed, which goes to show Kāpiti is a great place to establish a business.” 

Building on a UK model started in 2012, the New Zealand model has successfully delivered similar courses in Porirua, Upper Hutt, Tolaga Bay, Tairawhiti Gisborne, Auckland and Whanganui, in conjunction with local government and business supporters.

PopUp Business School Aotearoa founder Tony Henderson-Newport says the programme offers participants everything they need to get a business idea off the ground.

“We’re about giving people the confidence to start as well as the basics around financial and legal set up. The learning environment means participants gain new skills and have fun while they’re doing it,” he said.

“Then it’s about a really positive step-through of everything from finding a premise to building an online presence. In the end it’s about winning customers and launching fast.”

“If this sounds like you or if you’ve always wanted the chance to create your own business, then register now.”

Course registrations are now open on the PopUp Business School Aotearoa website. The course will run from 24 June to 5 July, five days a week between 9.30am to 2.30pm each day.

-KCDC