Matamata-Piako District

Community outcomes

Belonging to our community

Doing things together

(a) We will have regular events in our towns where people can get together as a community
(b) People will know about upcoming events and activities
(c) Our district will be known for running events people want to come to
(d) Networks would exist to help new people to our towns get to know other residents
(e) There will be a range of activities and events occurring in our communities for parents and children to do things together as families

Improving life on a day to day basis

(a) Our towns will grow and become more prosperous while remaining somewhere that is seen as attractive to raise a family

Participation in decision making

(a) All people will have the opportunity to comment on the decisions that affect their lives
(b) Young People will be involved in local decision making at a range of levels
(c) Tangata whenua with manawhenua status are recognised and involved in decision-making

Promotion of citizen responsibility

(a) All residents will recognise their responsibility to contribute to our district being a great place to live
(b) People will feel that there is a strong sense of ‘community responsibility’

Recreation and arts

(a) We will have good facilities in our district that are all easily accessible to each other
(b) Our facilities will be utilised to their full potential and offer a range of events and services
(c) People will be well informed on the resources, equipment, and facilities available
(d) We will have a wide diversity of recreation and entertaining events provided for a wide variety of people to hang out and enjoy
(e) We will have central recreation facilities
(f) We will have accessible transport to get to facilities outside of our community

Volunteers

(a) The residents of our district will support the activities and events offered by volunteering to help, participating and showing their appreciation
(b) Volunteering will be encouraged and valued in our community

Community safety and support: Looking after our people

Safety

(a) Our communities will be free from crime
(b) Residents in our communities will know their neighbours and will not be isolated from each other
(c) Our whole community will take responsibility for reporting and preventing crime and anti-social behaviour
(d) Young people will be driving legally and safely

Support for Young People

(a) Whanau (extended family), families and young people will be at the heart of our community values and planning
(b) Parents will recognise the importance of spending time with their kids
(c) There will good support networks and programmes for young people, their parents and families to prevent families and young people reaching crisis
(d) Our young people will grow up with good role-models and mentors
(e) Young people and older adults will share good relationships
(f) Older adults and parents will recognise the range of pressures young people are faced with today
(g) Parents will take more responsibility for their children

Economic Development: prosperity

Business, Farming and Industry

(a) Local businesses and industries will be experiencing sustainable growth
(b) Local businesses and industries will not be experiencing labour shortages preventing them from growing
(c) People will recognise the economic importance of farming to our district’s wellbeing
(d) People will recognise the importance of Maori economic development to our district’s wellbeing
(e) There will be more opportunities for people to pursue a career in farming; this would entail the development of career paths and opportunities for advancement

Employment

(a) Young people will be occupied with activities that are socially and financially rewarding
(b) Our communities will have local training opportunities for young people to improve their career options without having to leave the district
(c) People will have access to jobs that provide a fair and appropriate wage and safe and healthy conditions

Tourism

(a) The tourism potential in our district is recognised, developed and well co-ordinated for the benefit of all
(b) Tourism will become the focal point for Te Aroha with the town becoming recognised as more of a ‘destination’
(c) While developing tourism the character of our towns will be preserved and economic diversity will be developed
(d) Our communities and their attractions will be well promoted to tourists and potential residents both nationally and internationally

Healthy air, water, land: Healthy people

Air Pollution

(a) Objectionable odour effects will be well managed

Healthy People

(a) People will be free from preventable disease and illness
(b) The health and wellbeing of our residents will continue to improve

Pests and Noxious Weeds

(a) Our native trees and flora will be well managed and protected on both public and private land
(b) Pest levels will be kept to a minimum by both private and public land owners

Pollution and Waste

(a) Council will be promoting the cleaning up of water bodies and their margins through a variety of partnerships and programmes
(b) Our environment will be clear of toxins, contaminants, air pollution and litter
(c) All residents will have easy access to organic and inorganic waste disposal options
(d) Residents will feel safe about the sprays and pest control methods used
(e) Residents will trust public and private landowners to be sensible about the use of sprays

Protecting the Landscape

a) The district will continue to maintain an attractive landscape that is not altered by the adverse visual effects of development
(b) All development would seek to avoid, remedy or mitigate the visual impact of development
(c) Attention will be given to promoting, protecting and regenerating our native flora and fauna

Water Quantity and Quality

(a) Our rivers and water supplies will be clean and safe for industrial, business and residential consumption, cultural purposes and recreational uses
(b) The mauri of all waterways will be maintained in optimum condition
(c) Systems will exist to sustainably provide enough water for all purposes at all times
(d) People will be aware of the issues threatening their access to clean water for both drinking and recreation

Heritage: our past

Built Heritage

a) The built heritage of our towns and district will be protected, enhanced, promoted and celebrated by the local community

Knowledge and Treasures

(a) Access to traditional foods and cultural practices will be protected and preserved, while existing stocks of indigenous flora and fauna are increased
(b) Our history and the knowledge of our past, our customs and identity, the artifacts and treasures of our past and future will be respected and preserved
(c) People will have access to opportunities to learn and use Te Reo Maori
(d) The intellectual property rights relating to local artifacts, images, knowledge and cultural practices will be protected, respected and preserved

Mount Te Aroha

(a) The mountain will be accessible to everyone, with walking tracks offering different levels of difficulty and accessibility
(b) The native flora and fauna on the mountain will be protected and maintained
(c) The mountain would be promoted as an attraction
(d) Mount Te Aroha will be protected from inappropriate development

Te Aroha Domain

(a) The Domain will be developed in a manner to link the river, the main street of town, Herries Park and the Domain into a holistic town feature
(b) The Domain and its facilities will be well utilised and enjoyed by residents and tourists while remaining affordable for residents
(c) The Domain will be well advertised and promoted through organised events

Wetlands, Significant Natural Features and Wahi Tapu

(a) The wetlands, significant natural features and wahi tapu on public land throughout the district will be protected, promoted enhanced and restored
(b) The wetlands, significant natural features and wahi tapu on private land throughout the district will be protected, promoted and enhanced for preservation purposes

Our social infrastructure

Outside Agencies Meeting Our Community’s Needs

(a) Local people will be interested and get involved in the planning processes of external agencies
(b) As a community we will be encouraging people and agencies to work together

Services

(a) Social services in rural areas, such as schools, health services etc. will be maintained at current levels or higher
(b) People will not have to travel unrealistic distances to access services; in particular young and elderly people will have good access to services
(c) Services essential for health and wellbeing - i.e. doctors - will be affordable for all
(d) Council and other service providers will be ready to respond to pressures for additional services that come from the community
(e) To increase population levels that will serve to secure services that may be at risk of centralisation so our existing services will be maintained
(f) We will continue to obtain improved access to services currently absent
(g) Community organisations that are making a valuable contribution to our community’s wellbeing are well resourced for the work they do

Planning and development

Industrial Development

(a) There will be consistent and coherent growth in the industrial sector to help foster growth in the commercial and residential sectors of our communities

Intensive Farming

(a) All negative effects of industry will be managed within the property
(b) The effects of intensive farming will be monitored
(c) The long term adverse effects of intensive farming will be minimised

Rural Subdivision and Amalgamation

(a) Large ‘blocks’ of land will be protected through the restriction of subdivisions in rural areas
(b) Council plans will be flexible enough to accommodate changes in the pressures for subdivision

Small Town Culture: Large Town Infrastructure

(a) Our towns will all grow in a coherent ‘well planned’ manner
b) Our decision-making will be confident and visionary
(c) Projects will be started and completed seamlessly
(d) Infrastructure will be provided for the future, not just today
(e) Decisions and development will be conducted in a manner respectful to local tikanga (customs) and values

Town Appearance

(a) Our towns will have an appearance their residents can take pride in; free from graffiti and vandalism
(b) The town entrances will be maintained as gateways to the town, with a theme appropriate to the town
(c) Our towns will have wide streets and well maintained footpaths
(d) Industry will be zoned to appropriate places within the town with screening and development controls in place to help reduce the visual impact
(e) The appearance of our towns, the names of roads, sites and facilities, will reflect the diversity of the residents

Town Planning

(a) Our District Plan and Council policies will promote the retention of the character of our towns while accommodating growth and development
(b) Our three towns will grow bigger to the benefit of urban and rural citizens

Morrinsville and Matamata will expand up to a maximum of 10,000 people with a well managed growth plan
Te Aroha would have expanded to a vibrant community of 5,000-6,000 people permanently resident

Pride and Justice

All people will live lives free from discrimination

(a) All people will live lives free from discrimination
(b) People will feel proud to say that they come from Matamata-Piako
(c) People will be able to feel proud of their heritage and culture
(d) People will have the opportunity to learn about their own heritage and culture as well as the heritage, values and traditions of others living in the district
(e) Organisations making decisions on behalf of the community will have an understanding of Maori values
(f) Our decision-making will be fair and just in its consideration of the diversity and different needs of residents in Matamata-Piako
(g) All people will be free of poverty
(h) Our community will be a place where young people feel welcome and can imagine building a life
(i) Our Koroua and Kuia (elders) will be respected for the valuable contributions they make to our community
(j) All settlements for lands and properties confiscated unjustly will be negotiated to fair and durable outcomes

Transport: People going places

Parking

(a) We will have good access to parking in our central business district’s that will suit business staff, shoppers and people passing through, without needing to resort to parking meters or other paid parking methods

People and Traffic Flow

(a) Our traffic will flow safely for trucks and cars and rural peacefulness will be maintained
(b) Young people will be able to safely use our roads for walking and biking
(c) It will be easy and safe for pedestrians to move around without impeding traffic flow on the roads
(d) We will have safe, fast links and roading networks to neighbouring communities such as Hamilton and Tauranga
(e) The aesthetics of our town’s main streets will be maintained - i.e. kept clear of heavy vehicles - while maintaining busy towns with unimpeded access to the central business districts

Source: Matamata-Piako District Council Long-term Council Community Plan 2009-2019 Vol 1 part 3: matamata-piako district tomorrow. (pdf 1.44mb)

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