Future in Focus - Arotahi ki Anamata

Thank you for your interest, consultation has now closed. We will be developing our strategic direction and working through community views and preferences alongside other data and evidence. Once we developed a strategic direction, we will touch base again to make sure we are heading in the right direction.

Read the Future in Focus 2020 - Community Priorities Research Report - (PDF, 1.2 MB) or visit the Long Term Plan 2021-31 for more information.

Our District and communities will face some big challenges and opportunities over the coming ten years and beyond. This represents an exciting time to ‘Reimagine’ what the future of our District can be. Here at the Council we feel a great sense of responsibility to ensure that our District continues to be a great place to live, work, play, raise a family, and do business.

Right now much of our focus is on supporting our community and economy as we navigate through the impacts of not only COVID 19, but also the December 2019 Whakaari eruption. As we recover from these events, we are looking to the future, ensuring that we can build back better and work towards the kind of future that is important to all of us. This conversation will help determine what those ‘important’ things are.

Help us to prioritise the right things

We want to start an early conversation with you, to make sure we are prioritising the right things. Your feedback will help 'Reimagine' the vision for the future of the Whakatāne District.

  • Do you agree with the key challenges and opportunities we have identified?
  • Which do you think should be the highest priority?
  • Do you have thoughts and ideas about how the Council should be responding to the key challenges and opportunities?
  • Are there other challenges and opportunities you think we have missed?

Find out more

Visit koreromai.whakatane.govt.nz to find out more »

Download the Future in Focus - Arotahi ki Anamata Consultation Document - (PDF, 2.28 MB) 


Key Dates

  • ✓ 25 May 2020: Consultation opens
    We welcome your input to help define the key challenges and opportunities facing our future.
  • ✓ 15 June 2020: Consultation closes
    Please provide your feedback by 5 pm, 15 June 2020.
  • ✓ 6 July 2020 - Consultation Extended
    We've extended the deadline for feedback for an extra three weeks.

    Feedback closed at 5 pm, 6 July 2020.

  • ✓ July - Aug 2020: Council develops strategic direction
    We will work through community views and preferences alongside other data and evidence to review the Council's strategic direction.
  • ✓ September - October 2020: Finalise our draft strategic direction
    Once we have worked through the evidence to develop the Council's strategic direction, we will touch base again to make sure we are heading in the right direction.