Hastings District Council’s community plans

Hastings District Council describes community planning as “the voice of a community”. It obtains local people’s views on the place that they call home, celebrates the things that make their community special, highlights their goals and aspirations, and creates a future vision for the community.

Led by the community, community plans are about community members coming together to develop a local plan to shape the development of their community into the future. Agreement is reached on objectives, actions, delivery responsibility, and timeframes, all with the aim of improving the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of a local community. Community-led plans have a vision, actions, and an implementation plan. They are endorsed by the Council, so can guide decision-making by the Council and other agencies.

An example of the district’s community plans is the Maraekākao Community Plan. The plan builds on initiatives that were identified in an earlier community plan and sets out new and emerging projects. It sets the vision for Maraekākaho as a connected, strong rural community, centred around a social, environmental and economic hub which links the past with the future.

The priorities identified are viewed and considered in planning and funding plans for Hastings District Council, stakeholders, funders and community partners which results in the community’s project plan.