Motueka 2030 event programme announced

April 25th, 2015

Vision Motueka has finalised the seven major public events organised for May, as the visible part of its ambitious "Motueka 2030" community information gathering project.

"The month of May will be a big watershed in the future history of Motueka," says Vision Motueka chairman David Armstrong. "It will be seen as the time when Motueka people from across the community had their say on how the town would become stronger into the future.

"During May everyone will have the opportunity, one way or another, to think about what they really love about Motueka and what they think could make it an even better place in future, and make those ideas known.

"The world doesn't owe us a favour, and for many the future looks very uncertain, so it's up to us as a community to step up and make sure we remain strong for the next 15 years and beyond."

Vision Motueka, with the endorsement of the Community Board and Tasman District Council, is running a series of free activities and events throughout May, and everyone is encouraged to attend those which interest them most. A summary of the programme can be downloaded here and printed for future reference.

What do you love about Motueka?

The activities kick off with an informal drop-in day at Motueka Memorial Hall, on Sunday May 3rd from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Anyone can drop by for a half hour or more, including families with children.

There will be plenty of things for children to do with their parents, including drawing or painting their vision of a future Motueka, plus some fun and challenging games.

Meanwhile the adults (and younger ones if they wish) can write on sheets of paper what they love about Motueka as well as what they think would make the community better in future. They can "vote" on 20 topical questions, or if they have time answer a detailed questionnaire.

All people taking part will go into a weekly draw for prizes to be given each week throughout May. Other spot prizes will be given on the day. There will be a free sausage sizzle over lunch and light refreshments through the day for those taking part.

What about less conventional approaches?

On Thursday May 7th a seminar will be held at the Memorial Hall supper room to look at unconventional ways of viewing and unleashing a thriving economy.

Practical and visionary ideas for a strong, enduring economy for Motueka will be presented by two speakers, and further developed by all participants in the meeting. It is intended that these ideas will flow into the Economic Summit on May 20th.

Here is your chance to think about some alternative ways of viewing the future. Supper will be provided, and a koha requested to help pay venue expenses.

Motueka's great parks and reserves

This town is blessed with a wonderful environment envied throughout the world by those who have visited here. But it didn't all just happen.

Over many years (and particularly the past 10 years), great work has been done by Keep Motueka Beautiful, with the support and financial assistance of Tasman District Council and the Department of Conservation, to restore some eyesores close to their original shape.

With the help of scores of dedicated community volunteers, they have also created some wonderful recreational spaces, including walkways, cycle paths and parks and reserves.

It's 10 years since KMB took their vision for the area around the Inlet and began their restoration and walking path around it. The Adopt-a-Plot area (in Old Wharf Road opposite the Recreation Centre) has been a huge and inspiring success, and the walking loop (and cycling loop) around the inlet is complete and heavily used.

We want us all to celebrate this work and other upcoming projects in reserves, with a barbecue and information session at the Adopt-a-Plot area from 10.30am to 2.00pm on Saturday May 9th. You can plant a few trees in the plots, and take part in a "treasure hunt" for information about hte area's development.

The Community Gardens nearby will also be open for inspection and to answer questions. There will be educational activities for families and kids at both the community gardens and the inlet walkway entrance. And you may want to pitch in with a bit of voluntary maintenance weeding and digging.

The vision of Motueka's iwi

The two main Maori iwi, Te Atiawa and Ngati Rarua, have a long-standing and enduring vision for their home place. We all need to know and understand that vision, and how it is being implemented though various Maori entities.

On Wednesday May 13th from 7.30pm, there will be a forum, information session and presentations where we can all learn a bit more about the history of iwi in the Motueka area, of the present entities including NRAIT and Wakatu Inc, and of the vision those entities and iwi aspire to.

The forum will take place in the dining room (wharekai) at Te Awhina Marae, at the western end of Pah Street. It will be followed by supper.

Motueka Economic Summit: The Sequel

Last August over 130 business and community leaders attended the first such meeting in decades. Now it's time for the follow-up, and it's once again free and open for all.

Instead of eight speakers filling the four-hour summit, this time four speakers will present ideas around some of the key economic/business issues facing the town; followed by discussion groups for all attending. Plus another yummy morning tea provided by the Crafty Tarts.

It's to be held at Memorial Hall. And although it's free, online registration is required in order to attend. You can register by going to www.motueka2030.nz and follow the link on the right hand side of the page. Or you can phone David on and he will do the registration for you in a few moments.

The future builds on the past

While planning our future, we acknowledge our past and the people and institutions that made the town what it is today.

One interesting event during the Motueka 2030 activity month will be a look at one key aspect of Motueka's history and its most vital early asset, Port Motueka which will be 100 years old next year.

Vision Motueka is supporting the Motueka & District Historical Association to hear Robbie Williams, the last harbourmaster (1966 - 68), speak from his experience and that of his father, along with his huge amount of research.

There will be plenty of time for questions about research on the port, especially with the Historical Association due to publish a centenary book about its history and looking for photographs and information from you.

The presentation will be at Community House, Decks Reserve, on Saturday May 23rd, 1.30pm, followed by afternoon tea.

Our youth are our future

The other core event during May will be the Motueka Youth Summit, to be held at the Top 10 Holiday Park Conference Centre on Monday May 25th from 7.00pm.

What do our next generation of leaders want? What would make them want to stay here after their studies are over, or return after they've finished tertiary training? What about jobs for those not going on the higher education?

The summit will start with presentations by six panelists - three youth leaders and three young people, followed by guided discussions between panelists, and then among those attending. Brent Maru, who will chair the summit, will ensure that young people attending will be heard respectfully and people of all ages engage positively with each other.

All young people and adults interested in youth engagement in the community are welcome. There will be a light supper at the end.

See you in High Street

Those unable to attend any of these seven events can still make their voice heard. Throughout the month (weather permitting) members of the Motueka 2030 team will be in High Street, mainly outside the museum, with questionnaires that you can fill in.

The 50 or so questions are about what you think would be good and not-so-good ideas for the future of the town. You get to rate them in order of importance to you. There are no right and wrong answers.

It's a simple process, and every person completing the questionnaire goes into a weekly draw (one for each of the four weeks of May) for a nice prize donated by Motueka businesses.

For those who would prefer to do the questionnaire in their own time, it can be downloaded from the Motueka 2030 website. Or you can do a Survey Monkey version online.

And a third (and already popular) way of having your say, if you have a Facebook account, is to go to and join the group "Motueka 2030" and add your comments to the hundreds already there on many issues.

More information needed?

The Motueka 2030 team has a huge amount of information about this consultation project - its origins, goals and methods - on its website www.motueka2030.nz.

Comment by Marion Edwin:
[Posted 22 April 2015]

This is looking like a fabulous range of events to get people involved. Thank you to David and the small but wonderful team working on this! Kia kaha Motueka!

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