Future in district's hands

Pita Tipene, Tania McInnes, and Pauline Evans put up one of the controversial billboards near the Kerikeri roundabout. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Twenty deliberately provocative billboards have gone up around the Far North in a bid to get people thinking about the district's future.

The billboards show, among other things, skyscrapers going up behind Kerikeri's Stone Store, a bridge between Russell and Paihia, wind turbines on the Hokianga dunes and a casino in Kaikohe.

They aim to provoke Far Northerners into taking part in a survey about what they want, and don't want, for the district by the year 2050. Findings from the survey and a series of community workshops this month will be used to guide future council decisions.

The project, called Our Voices Our Vision, is led by deputy mayor Tania McInnes and a reference group made up of iwi, business, conservation, police, health, education and transport representatives.

Ms McInnes said the district needed a common vision so the council did not keep drifting along, making ad hoc decisions.

"It's ensuring that we start making sound decisions, moving away from listening to developers and squeaky wheels, and basing decisions on where we want to go."

The project has cost $11,076 so far, not including staff time, for the billboards, brochures, postcards and website hosting.

The website was built in-house to reduce costs.

Workshops are being held across the district this month. Reference group members are visiting schools, community groups, retirement homes and marae, rather than using traditional community hall meetings.

-Go to the website www.telluswhatyouwant.co.nz to take part in the survey or pick up a brochure from council service centres. Closing date for feedback is June 28.