From left: KaPai Carterton Committee members Ngaire Raikabula, Mike Osborne, Renae Mackie [Creative Forest], Cimone Grayson and Lucy McKenzie. PHOTOS/LUCIA ZANMONTI
GIANINA SCHWANECKE
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The future of Carterton is bright and vibrant, according to the team behind Ka Pai Carterton.
Ka Pai Carterton, the result of a partnership between Resilient Carterton and the Department of Internal Affairs, is part of a community-led development programme to develop a community plan, detailing residents’ vision for the district’s future.
The committee was formed in December last year, and in April Cimone Grayson was appointed the Ka Pai Carterton facilitator alongside Lucy McKenzie, who is the analyst and administrator.
Grayson said they had spent the past few months going out to the community, visiting schools, early learning centres and shop owners, as well as attending committee meetings.
“We’ve gone out to people because we felt that would be the most effective way,” she said.
Last week the group ran several sessions at the Carterton Events Centre to gather feedback.
They partnered Creative Forest to help organise the event, which included feedback trees and interactive displays.
Grayson estimated around 450 people came through over the three days to submit their feedback.
“On the Saturday there were more than 200 people who registered including young families which is great.”
She said the results were encouraging and was especially pleased that participants included those who don’t normally engage.
“If we don’t know what their concerns are then we can’t voice them.”
They sought feedback on categories relating to Carterton’s infrastructure, economy, well-being, education, recreation and arts.
Some of the themes which had emerged over the past few months focused on collective spaces and activities for the district’s youth.
Suggestions included a space for winter activities, which would include a trampoline and climbing wall.
“We can go to places in Palmerston North or the Hutt Valley but there’s nothing in Wairarapa,” Grayson said.
“In the dead of winter there are lots of families with nowhere to go.”
There were also suggestions about a youth-run café and more public events around Carterton parks, like outdoor movie nights and music performances.
The next step will be to submit the community plan to Internal Affairs after compiling all the information.
“It will be a document written by the community for the community.”
She said they were still working through this process and it would be several weeks before they were finished.
