Community conversations start to shape local recovery plan

The first of nine Community Conversations across Central Hawke’s Bay kicked off this week, shaping local plans to build a stronger and more resilient district after the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council says that the information shared at these meetings and through a supporting online survey will give a clearer picture of the immediate, medium and longer-term priorities of communities across the district. 

Alex Walker, Central Hawke's Bay Mayor says: “Local, local, local is the key. We are going to need help from others to move forward from the damage of this cyclone. But we need people to hear our local voice and not to just make decisions or plans over our heads. Communities and marae are how we are going to need to talk, think and plan so we can develop a robust and long-term approach to recovery."

This ‘locality planning’ approach to regional and local recovery, while Council-facilitated, puts communities at the forefront, providing for a locally led, regionally coordinated and nationally supported recovery.

Council will develop local and district-wide plans with Central Hawke’s Bay communities in the coming weeks.

From the Community Conversations and online survey feedback, draft local plans will be developed. 

Doug Tate, Central Hawke's Bay District Council Chief Executive says: “At our meetings, the first of which were held in Elsthorpe and Takapau this week, and through our survey we’re asking each community: What do you need right now, and what will you need further down the line? What can we all learn from what we’ve been through, and what are the big issues in front of us? And importantly, what has made you most proud of our community through Cyclone Gabrielle? 

"What we learn from these local conversations will shape Central Hawke's Bay's part of the Hawke’s Bay regional recovery picture,” says Mr Tate.

7 April 2023

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