Momentum NorthHIHIAUA COMMUNITY

2017

Hihiaua Ahi Kaa (keep the home fires burning).

In ancient times beacon fires were lit at Hihiaua

to guide the people home.

Hihiaua will be a contemporary location

allowing for the sharing of knowledge and

experiences. It will exhibit chiefliness and will be

a place for all people.

Our Vision Hihiaua is a safe and thriving community in every season, where

access to the water is strong. More people from every generation will LIVE, WORK, PLAY, LEARN

and VISIT here. The mix of uses will be compatible with each other.

•Momentum North groups have met to discuss ideas, uses and findings about people’s relationship with Hihiaua, concepts for Hihiaua and infrastructure needed both now and in the future.

•We sorted our information and ideas into five segments based on the benefits (or usage) sought from the community followed by a SWOT analysis.

•These benefits were Live, Work, Play, Visit and Learn.

•We provide some data on the current community at Hihiaua.

Momentum North

and Hihiaua

LIVE WORK

LEARN PLAY

VISIT

● 105 businesses already in Hihiaua so a good base to grow and develop.

● Live work ratio of the city centre is out of balance and Hihiaua is a way to rebalance this with the work / live scenarios.

● New entrants into the area making impact on vibrancy

WORK.

● Investment into this area has seen increased use of this space for recreation.

● Around 3/4 of users of the loop walkway and its complementary attractors in 2015 were local and either daily or weekly repeat users.

● The two rivers are this areas greatest strength.

PLAY

● Total Population of Whangarei district as at 30 June 2016 estimated to be 87,700.

● Only 0.003% live in the CBD.

● Working age people on the increase.

● Early childcare / school numbers on the increase in town.

● Migration numbers on the increase with children - again need to retain and have an offering for this.

● Increase of population from Auckland is +30% in last 3 years.

● A large proportion of our population increase is people returning home..

LIVE

● He Puna Marama Trust with their Kura -Te Kāpehu Whetū (Years 7-13), Leadership Academy of A Company and also the Indigenous Knowledge Centre of Distinction (Pacific Centre)

● Whangarei Youth Theatre, dance schools and Thrive tuition also provide learning spaces in the precinct.

● Loop Walk provides us with stories of our heritage.

● Hihiaua Cultural centre is a place of learning.

● Workplace learning.

LEARN

● Significant investment gone in from council.

● There are further tourism projects planned

● Need to provide activators for visitors in Hihiaua to extend the time they spend here. 24 hour experience to create more memories.

● Hihiaua has a developing global point of difference- Largely around sustainability.

● Water edge a main attraction here.

VISITUnprecedented growth in

visits to Council attractors on the water’s

edge 132% annual growth

SUCCESSES

● People are coming to Whangarei for the lifestyle and the environment. Statistics show a greater number of young families migrating to whangarei- potential to develop into a younger, livelier district.

● Investments by the Council in water edge attractors are paying dividend. Visits at 11 attractors was surveyed in January 2014 & January 2015 and this showed increases ranging from 68% to 1400% . A mean increase in visits of 333% and more attractors are in the pipeline.

● Majority of users of the area are locals, but significant investment is forecasted to increase tourist numbers (Hundertwasser and Hihiaua Cultural Centre).

● Job growth in central Whangarei is in health care, professional/scientific, and public administration including education; young people live in the central city, and school rolls show growth but growth in housing is in rural lifestyle and coastal areas - alternative styles of living are not on offer.

A SWOT Analysis was undertaken by the Infrastructure and Investment Group•Strengths•Weaknesses •Opportunities•Threats.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths•Area to be developed with the future in mind•Resilient•Proximity to water/CBD/beaches•Willing landowner (WDC & NRC council's own most land)•Hatea Loop (commitment from council to grow the loop)•Cheaper land cost•Multi-use development•Growth in tourism•Strong cultural element•Fast broadband/fibre•Sports fields•Community spirit•Hundertwasser/ He Puna Marama/ Te Kopu/ Town Basin and many others•Momentum en masse •Increasing strong Maori presence in business and learning

SWOT Analysis

Weaknesses•Existing tenants/lease•Building act•Negative perception of Whangarei (need to change people’s mindset)•Suitable location required to relocate existing businesses•Current appearance is poor· •Dirty water•Silted river•Difficult access to water due to above•Poor geotechnical conditions•Dilapidating/inadequate infrastructure.

SWOT Analysis

Opportunities•Create better looking appearance•Government focus for Northland development•More immigrants, more Aucklanders relocating to the region•Hundertwasser•Te Kopu- Pacific Indigenous & Local Knowledge Centre of Distinction•Hihiaua Cultural Centre•other attractions of varying scale existing/planned in the near vicinity•Riverside Drive – land available•Attractive region to live•redevelopment whilst preserving/enhancing our ecosystems and environment

SWOT Analysis

Threats•Leasees/Lessors•Lack of buy-in from all sectors•Climate change•Negative publicity•Rising Sea Level•Potential push back from current residents•Competing interestsSWOT

Analysis

SUMMARY

● There is a new trend with Aucklanders and others settling in Whangarei but there is competition from other centres.

● Hihiaua is already a mixed use area, well served by established businesses which

meet everyday needs and new, high growth businesses are bringing an edge and vibrancy to the area.

● Building conversions to housing/ living /working spaces have come to a halt over

the last decade.

● Hihiaua as a mixed area for all generations – central city, water edge, and lifestyle- is timely and should aim at newcomers; others will follow.

● There is a great opportunity for Hihiaua to become a vibrant, attractive part of the future Whangarei.

● We need to capitalise on this opportunity and make Hihiaua part of the new Whangarei.

Our conclusions are...

Momentum NorthHIHIAUA COMMUNITY