Everything Kāpiti
Ngā Pitopito kōrero mai i te Kaunihera o Kāpiti
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Kia ora Kāpiti
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 about the new Waikanae Library and By-election, there is still time to have your say on our Draft Long-term Plan and you can even help us decide which movies to show at our Movies in the Park event.
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 What's new this week
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Bumper line up of summer events for Kāpiti
After the year we’ve had uniting against COVID-19, this summer is an opportunity to reconnect with each other and the outdoors again, spend time with our whānau and friends, and focus on our wellbeing as a community.
To support this, we have bumper calendar of free events to help you make the most of our great public spaces, facilities and services.
Events include outdoor movies, concerts, yoga, pool parties, scavenger hunts, water fights, garden parties, reading challenges and fun runs. We’re supporting a number of major events like the Ōtaki Kite Festival, the Māoriland Film Festival and the Xterra Wellington Festival, too.
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Our people and communities
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Zero Waste Education at Paekākāriki School
Watch the switched-on tamariki at Paekākāriki School learning how to 'reduce the rubbish pile' last week when our Waste Minimisation team stopped by for a visit.
We deliver the free Zero Waste Education programme to Kāpiti primary schools and preschools to help kids investigate the links between the earth’s natural resources, the products they use and see around them, and the waste that pollutes our environment.
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Rod was the lucky winner of last month's 'Sign up to Everything Kāpiti and win' promotion!
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With such an awesome response, we've decided to do it again – but this time we have TWO Grab and Go bags to give away!
So forward this to a friend, get them to sign up, and you could BOTH win a Grab and Go bag, to keep you prepared for an emergency.
Go on, be like Rod, and sign up today!
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Where were you last Wednesday at 10.20am? If you're anything like us, it can be hard to remember that far back!
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Recording our details wherever we go will help us act quickly if COVID-19 enters our community.
It doesn’t matter how you track, as long as you do it – using the NZ Tracer app on your phone is fantastic but, if you find it easier, keep a notepad and pen on you to make quick note, or take a time-stamped photo of each place you visit.
Remember the three Ws…
• Where did you go?
• When?
• Who were you with?
Stay safe and be kind, Kāpiti!
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Freedom camping ambassadors out this summer
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We're excited to launch a new ambassador programme to help manage freedom camping this summer.
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Summer has officially arrived and with the (hopefully) improving weather we can expect to see more visitors coming to and through Kāpiti - including those who freedom camp.
From this month until after Easter ambassadors will be out and about educating those who choose to freedom camp to do so responsibly, and sharing their local knowledge so visitors can get the most out of our awesome district.
Keep an eye out for the team over the summer - they'll be doing an important job in our community. |
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Work updates
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Ōtaki Civic Theatre – upgrade update
Our makeover of the Ōtaki Civic Theatre is now well under way. Last week saw a crane delivering corrugated iron to where it’s needed – the theatre’s roof.
Over the next few weeks, contractors will replace the old roofing panels with new ones – a major step in making the 82-year-old theatre leak-free, warmer and more secure for decades to come.
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Your Council
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Government climate declaration welcomed
We were pleased to see the Government’s climate emergency declaration last week and welcome this signal of increasing leadership and action.
Here in Kāpiti we are bracing for a number of climate change impacts, particularly increasing incidents of flooding and coastal erosion. And like other councils, we know that we, alongside our communities, will no doubt be tasked with bringing any action plans to fruition.
In local developments, councillors will meet this week to discuss establishing an independent Community Assessment Panel (CAP) to provide opinions and recommendations on coastal adaption options for Council consideration.
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It's just 17 sleeps till Santa, and some of our Council facilities will be taking a break, too.
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Our Paraparaumu, Ōtaki and Waikanae service centres are closed from 3pm Thursday 24 December until 9am Tuesday 5 January 2021 – our afterhours Call Centre (0800 486 486) will be available through this time.
These and other holiday hours are all listed on our website – from rubbish collections and transfer stations, to libraries and pools. Here's to a relaxing, safe and fun holiday period!
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Ka pai, Kāpiti! Dog registrations up
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Well done dog owners of Kāpiti!
Dog registrations for the 2020/21 year have hit 98 per cent complete, which means around 7,800 Kāpiti dogs have been successfully registered.
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This is an excellent result and has been achieved earlier than in recent years.
Dog ownership is a privilege and a responsibility. Registration is legally required under the Dog Control Act, and helps with the management of dogs across our district and country.
If you haven't registered your dog, please do so urgently. Over the next few months our Animal Management Team will be actively following up to ensure all dog owners register their dogs.
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Hot tip
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Te Mania Auheke - the slippery slope
Staff got to set up and test the awesome 28m water slide at Ōtaki Pool in Haruātai Park this weekend, and now it's ready for sliding action. Te Mania Auheke will be open all summer holidays from 1-3pm, weather dependent. Come for a visit and see how fast you can go!
Ōtaki Pool is a great option for a day out with the family, with its outdoor splashpad, inflatables and games. This is alongside loads of regular classes like Aquafit, Aquamove and Learn to Swim lessons, too. See you there!
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 Get involved
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Help us choose! Movies in the Park
Our first Movies in the Park event earlier this year was so popular we're doing it again – save Saturday 20 February 2021 in your diary. But first, we need your help!
We're running two polls to choose which kids' and teens' movies to show.
Check out the trailers at this link, and click 'next' on the poll to see both polls. Voting closes 11 December. Thanks for your input!
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Kāpiti Arts Trail visitor's survey
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Diane Connal at work. Photo: Jenny Siaosi
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Did you hit the Arts Trail with us this year? If so, we’d love to hear more about your experience of the event!
Fill in our quick survey and be in to win a $200 voucher toward a Kāpiti Arts Trail artwork of your choice.
All responses will be anonymous. The survey closes Sunday 13 December.
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What's important for the new Waikanae Library?
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Council is committed to maintaining a library/service centre in Waikanae. The next step in the process is to secure funding through our Long-term Plan for a new or upgraded facility.
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We’re asking people to share their ideas about what they’d like to see and experience in their new library. Knowing what matters most to people will help inform our funding bid.
You can tell us what you’d like to see in your new library via our “Have your say” website.
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By-election: get posting to have your vote count
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| There's still time to get your vote in the post for the 2020 Waikanae Community Board by-election, but if you're running late don't worry, we've got you covered. |
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Voting is being made easier with a series of “pop-up” voting stations.
In the lead-up to the close of polls on 16 December we’ll be hitting some busy spots around Waikanae with a ballot box, making it as easy as we can to get those votes in. The first pop-up will be on Friday, 11 Dec, 11am – 2pm outside Waikanae New World, Parata Street.
Early returns so far are positive. As at Friday, 5 December 2,215 votes (18 per cent) had been received, which was ahead of Waikanae returns at the same stage of the 2019 local elections.
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Last chance to tell us what matters most
It’s the final week of ‘What matters most?’. We've loved getting out and about, listening to what you, our communities, have to say. We’ve also received some really thoughtful feedback on our new online engagement space.
It’s not too late to have your say, go to whatmattersmost.kapiticoast.govt.nz or pop in to your local library or Council service centre. Your responses will help to inform decisions about where to focus Council activity over the next 20 years.
Formal consultation on the draft Long-term Plan 2021–41 will take place in April 2021.
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Dates to remember
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Family Festive Storytimes
Celebrate the festive season with your friends and whanau at our special Christmas storytimes. Come along for stories, carols, activities and special treats from our library elves!
It’s free, no registrations are required and it's great entertainment for those aged 4–10 years.
Saturday 12 Dec: Ōtaki Library, 10.30–11.30am
Saturday 12 Dec: Waikanae Library, 2.30–3.30pm
Saturday 12 Dec: Paekākāriki Library, 10.30–11.30am
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 #shareyourkapiti
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We want to see your Kāpiti snaps!
Do you have beautiful Kāpiti Coast photos? If so, follow us on Instagram and use the hashtag #shareyourkapiti for the chance to feature in Everything Kāpiti. If you don't use social media, you can upload your images to our website, at #ShareYourKapiti. Get sharing!
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Everything (Kāpiti) is better with friends 
Would you like to share the Everything Kāpiti newsletter with friends? Forward it to a friend and they'll be able to sign up too.
Or share the signup page directly. We look forward to welcoming them to the whanau.
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