A revolutionary initiative in Porirua city won first place in the Community Relations category of the New Zealand Post Group New Zealand Local Government Excellence Awards 2009. Porirua City Council's Village Planning Programme involves a groundbreaking partnership between the Council and local communities. This inspiring programme puts communities in charge of developing a vision for their own neighbourhoods and then partnering with Council to make it happen.

So far, eight Porirua communities have engaged in the Village Planning process.

Their plans have been hugely diverse, reflecting the differing nature of the villages. Projects requested have included everything from a new waterfront promenade and skate park, to a beach management plan and a community fair.

Eastern Porirua's Map to the Future

One example of this innovative cross-sectoral collaboration involved the Eastern Porirua Residents Association, local retailers, Maraeroa Marae, Capital and Coast District Health Board, Housing New Zealand and the Council. The Council led an extensive community consultation, including a survey of 1200 residents.
Among the projects identified in the subsequent Eastern Porirua Map to the Future was the development of a community park in Waitangirua. A Community Design Group was formed by representatives from Maraeroa Marae, Waitangirua Action Group, Waitangirua Residents Focus Group, Waitangirua Mall, Porirua Community Guardians, Housing New Zealand Corporation, local residents, schools and the Council. This group meets regularly to review park design and provide feedback from the community. Construction is expected to start this year. The process of community consultation to develop the park plan has been documented in a 20 minute DVD called "Te Wairua o Waitangirua".
Read more at the Porirua City Council's website.

Helen Wilson

Picture (above): The land in  Waitangirua could be developed into  a community-designed park