Be part of shaping our region’s future!

Te Rautaki Whanaketanga ki tua a Wairarapa- Wellington- Horowhenua

Future Development Strategy Wairarapa-Wellington-Horowhenua

Consultation opens soon. You can have your say from 9 October – 9 November 2023

What is the Future Development Strategy?

The Wairarapa-Wellington-Horowhenua Future Development Strategy (the Strategy) sets out how we plan to deliver well-functioning urban environments in our existing and future towns and cities over the next 30 years. The Strategy proposes where to prioritise housing and business development, as well as investment in infrastructure to support this development. The Strategy guides regional policy development, including Regional and District Plan changes in the future, as well as Land Transport Plans, infrastructure strategies, councils budgets (Long Term Plans) and other policies.

The Future Development Strategy builds on work done previously across the region and will replace the Wellington Regional Growth Framework (WRGF).

A growing region

During the next 30 years the Wairarapa-Wellington-Horowhenua region will grow and change.

The Future Development Strategy will help us plan for:

• projected 200,000 more people
• projected 99,000 more homes
• a greater supply of business and industrial land
• new community services and amenities in accessible locations
• upgraded and new infrastructure to meet our current and growing needs
• the region becoming more climate and natural hazard resilient.

Our vision for the future

We want to be responsible ancestors and provide sustainable growth for future generations. We want a future region founded on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and realised through the tino rangatiratanga of tangata whenua.

The key proposal in the Future Development Strategy is for most new development to be concentrated in and around existing towns and cities and public transport networks (as opposed to spreading development into the green areas at the edges of existing urban areas). This helps us to promote sustainable growth by reducing emissions, avoiding development in natural areas and being cost-efficient by maximising the use of existing infrastructure.

Priorities for development in our region

The strategic direction in the draft Future Development Strategy is made up of these 6 key areas:

Have your say on the Future Development Strategy!

We would like your feedback on the key proposals in our draft Future Development Strategy. To learn more, read our online submission form and summary document and our draft strategy or attend our online webinars register here. We will hold two session FDS 101 on Tuesday 17th October and FDS for Experts on Thursday 19th October. You can submit as an individual or on behalf of an organisation.

Consultation is open from Monday 9 October to Thursday 9 November 2023.

How you can have your say:

• Our preference is for you to submit online
• If you want to fill in a paper form, please scan the feedback form at the back of this report and Email: hello@wrlc.org.nz (ensuring “submission on FDS” is in the subject line).
• If post is the best option for you, please address to:
  Wellington Regional Leadership Committee Secretariat.
  c/o Future Development Strategy Lead
  PO Box 11646
  Wellington 6011

You can also indicate in your submission whether you would like to be heard by the Hearings Subcommittee. Hearings will take place in person and online from Monday 11th December. The current proposed dates and locations for hearings are:

• Monday 11th December – Wellington CBD – Greater Wellington Regional Council, 100 Cuba Street
• Tuesday 12th December – Masterton – Greater Wellington Regional Council, 34 Chapel Street
• Wednesday 13th December – Paraparaumu – Kapiti Coast District Council, 175 Rimu Road