Mayor's Message

We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.  Kaipara may be described as a diamond in the rough, a region full of treasures and wealth but largely untouched by extensive devlopment.

The true value of this beautiful area, from its fabulous coast lines and rural heartland to the majesty of the Kaipara Harbour, is known to all that live here.

However, as with a diamond, while protecting what makes it beautiful is essential, to realise its full potential it requires development in a focused and structured way.

The Proposed District Plan seeks to balance these two principles and the interests of people of Kaipara in two ways:

• by ensuring that the taonga (treasures) of Kaipara are protected and enhanced for future generation by setting rules and guidelines for the development and use of land in a way that encourages growth while protecting the environment; and
• by enabling people to get on with their activities and encouraging orderly growth

The review of the plan is ongoing and we have worked hard to ensure that we listen to our communities to learn what is important to them.  As a result of the submission period  we received 456 submissions which will help us to refine the Proposed District Plan and produce a blueprint of excellence.

The Further Submission Period will enable those who are affected by submissions made to provide their views to Council so as to facilitate Council's finalisation of the Proposed District Plan.  We want to provide a District Plan that achieves what you want and this continued exchanged of ideas and views ensures this is achieved.

Thank you to Councillors, staff, all those individuals and groups who have made submissions and the teams of people who continue to assist with the development of this plan.  I am positive that we will finalise a plan that will help us produce an area that is the jewel in New Zealand's crown.

Neil Tiller, JP

Mayor