South Westland Communities Development Project
Haast * Bruce Bay * Fox Glacier * Franz Josef * Okarito * Whataroa * Hari Hari * Pukekura * Waitaha * Ross
PROGRESS REPORT 10 DECEMBER 2015
South Westland Communities Development Project (SWCDP), funded by Department of
Internal Affairs and WestREAP and managed by WestREAP, involves supporting communities
from Ross to Haast to be innovative, to generate their own solutions to local issues, and to
become more self-reliant and resilient. It will support community-driven projects that enable
people to come together, build trust and work to achieve community outcomes. It provides a
Community Development Facilitator (CDF) to work with communities and service providers, to
identify assets, opportunities, issues and problems, identify projects, leaders, partners and
resources, facilitate collaboration and to compile community development plans.
The first phase of SWCDP is to identify assets, opportunities, issues and projects that SWCDP could
support. In this community led development process there is no preconceived idea of the range of
topics or the scale of projects that can be identified. Refinement and prioritisation will follow this
identification.
Communities and service providers have identified a wide variety of opportunities, issues and
projects. Some of these are already well underway, some of those underway would welcome
assistance, while others have been in peoples’ minds and need resources and support to get going.
More will surface as more people and service providers become involved.
Opportunities, Issues and Projects Identified by Communities So Far
(Not
necessarily listed in any order of priority).
Haast
 With Bruce Bay community, celebrating 50th anniversary of opening Paringa-Haast section of
Haast Road, 6 November 2015. Nationally significant as this completed the New Zealand
State Highway system. A rolling celebration through South Westland as each community
commemorates the road reaching their area has been suggested.(Completed).
 Upgrading / renewing the interpretation displays, especially the story of the road, in the Haast
Visitor Centre and providing additional interpretation along the road
 Review of DWC “Southern Te Wahi Pounamu South West NZ World Heritage Area Tourism
Development Strategy 2009”
 Review of Signage on SH6 around Haast Junction to clarify location of Haast Village, Visitor
Centre, Haast Beach and Jackson Bay
 Building a walkway / cycle way from Haast Township to Haast Beach as a visitor activity..
 Increase visitor numbers in winter off-season.
 Establishment of a significant event as a visitor attraction in off-peak season..
 Attract more visitors along Jackson Bay Road
 Develop Tourism Marketing Plan with Tourism West Coast
 Renew the Haast St John ambulance facility and Haast Health Clinic, issues of location,
opportunities to collaborate with Fire Service and Search and Rescue.
 Future of Haast community hall.
 Reviewing the constitution of Haast Promotions Group to better reflect its growing community
development functions.
 Planning for utilisation of township / community rate funding.
 Redeveloping Marks Rd Reserve to provide better entrance to Haast Village and interpretation
panels.
 Review of Civil Defence and Emergency Management Plan.
 Better understand the Westland District Council’s creation of a Haast Zone for Community
Rating Purposes extending from Jackson Bay to Lake Paringa.
 A community meeting was held in September 2015 to set the rules for deciding the distribution
of the Haast Area Township Development Fund.
 A community planning meeting will be held in early 2016.
Bruce Bay
 With Haast community, celebrating 50th anniversary of opening of Paringa-Haast Section of
Haast Pass Road, 6 November 2015.(completed).
 Establishment of a local museum – gathering, preserving and telling the stories.
 Future of Bruce Bay Community Hall, and effect of new earthquake resilience standards.
 Co-ordination of annual Bruce Bay sports day and ball; expertise, funding and support
 Improved internet, mobile phone, and land line facilities – lack of service, poor quality,
expense impacts on business, response to emergencies, accidents and vehicle breakdowns.
 Care for the elderly and home help – public system not available.
 Transport to and from health appointments and medical treatment, flexibility of health centre
operations, post treatment care.
 Sustainability of transport for school children.
 Rubbish collection and recycling.
 Controlling speed of traffic through Bruce Bay Township – currently 100 kph limit.
 Bruce Bay Beach – promoting one of NZ’s 10 most loved beaches – lack of toilets, rubbish,
parking facilities.
 Working alongside Te Runanga o Makaawhio.
 Finding an auditor for Community Hall Association accounts.
 Making known what services are available.
 Funding for South Westland Community Contact.
 Better understand and respond to Westland District Council’s inclusion of Bruce Bay
community area in a Fox Glacier Zone for Community Rating Purposes extending from
Weheka Hills to Lake Paringa and in a Haast Zone extending from Jackson Bay to Lake
Paringa.
Fox Glacier
 Fox Glacier Community Development Society is fully committed to developing its new
community centre, due to commence this year.
 Training for South Westland communities in community facility operations – operating policies
and plans, health and safety, liabilities, maintenance, sustainability.
 A large South Westland community fundraising event – all communities working together.
 Funding sources for services, facilities and infra-structure provided for tourists.
 Tourism workers – improving ability to extend 3 month work visas when both employer and
employee want to continue.
 Health clinics - Phone systems inability to record more than 3 incoming calls. Provision of
emergency electricity generators.
 Heritage interpretation for new community centre. Access resources available from closed
DOC Visitor Centre and Hokitika Museum.
 Establishment of a significant event as a visitor attraction in off-peak season
 Improved knowledge of access to and availability of mental heath services.
 Provision of a consulting room for visiting personal services, e.g., physiotherapist (will be
provided in new Community Centre)
 Funding to enable professional service visits – to cover travel and accommodation.
Franz Josef .
1. Strategic Plan for Resilience and Sustainability
 Franz Josef Foundation Plan for moving forward
1. Earthquake risk zoning management – outcome & next stage
2. River management planning
3. Should Franz Josef Township be re-located?
4. Resilience, rebuild & development and transition programmes, revitalization plan
underway.
 Leading to a Franz Josef Township Development Plan – incorporated into Westland District
Plan so certainty is provided. (What should Franz Josef be like in 2025)
2. Immediate to Medium Term Projects not Significantly Impacted by Outcomes of
Strategic Plan (priortised by Franz Josef Community Council)
1. Provision of alternative water supply and coping with peak water demands.
2. Controlling traffic speed on State Highway 6 at two entrance points & at school / Kidsfirst
kindergarten.
3. High speed broadband with a Franz Josef Free Hotspot
4. Public toilet facility – upgrade funding to cover 3 cleans per day in peak season, 2 early &
late, 1 in winter. Incorporate toilets at DOC centre into additional public toilet facility?
Freedom campers?
5. Provision of community swimming pool, heated, with hydro-slide
6. Development & promotion of Winter in Franz Josef – photography; cycle & walkways; spa
and hot pools; helihikes; hunting / fishing?
7. Development and promotion of cycle ways and walking tracks
8. Central car parking.
9. Picnic / playground / park area (facility in central Township area – next to public toilets ?)
10. Dog park
11. Rubbish receptacles on the back roads of Franz Josef township– YHA northwards.
12. Purchase of theatre projector so community film nights can roll again.
13. A contract for regular maintenance in the township: include sweeping of gutters, streets &
footpaths, maintaining all business gardens & walkways, general tidying up duties. Contract
let to local contractor for 1 or 2 days per week
14. Developing the concept of the Franztastic Fund to fund extra community development and
facilities.
15. Improvement/development of Glacier Country website to maximum potential
16. Apply to have status of the site of existing DOC Visitor Centre changed from national park to
allow community recreational use when Visitor Centre re-locates.
17. Provision of Community Library centrally located – at Community Hall?
18. Signage improvement & tidy up: i kiosk; Information centre; medical centre etc.
19. Recognition and integration of migrant and seasonal workers into Franz Josef
20. Update & improve Franz Josef Glacier information on Tourism West Coast website; currency
exchange
21. Create a general Franz Josef attractions brochure or A4 flyer
 Refurbish community centre (painting and maintenance) and longer term redevelopment.
 Update Civil Defence and Emergency Management Plan, personnel. Acquire equipment and
training.
Okarito
 Review of 2001 Okarito Community Association “Statement on the Future of Okarito”.
 Completion of Donovan’s Store restoration.
 Enhance Okarito Township “entry experience”.
 Provision of Information centre / kiosk.
 Internal directory signs: wharf, township, motor camp, walkways, toilets.
 Prepare community / attractions / heritage brochures.
 Update and improve OCA web-site, and Okarito information on other web-sites.
 Traffic calming at main road entrance and on roads through township.
 Manage vehicle use on beach and in public spaces to protect public, wildlife and
environment.
 Improve safety of Wharf Road and Main Road junction
 Celebration of 150th anniversary of Okarito Gold-rush (prepare timeline and confirm dates
between November 2015 and March 2016)
 Potential to link the Okarito Goldfields 150th anniversary celebration with Haast-Paringa road
completion 50th anniversary, 6 November 2015.
 Commission writing of book on history of Okarito – identify potential authors.
 Upgrade information panels in wharf building.
 Develop walkways around lagoon, e.g., boardwalk wharf to boatshed, wharf to beach.
 Preservation of buildings of national cultural significance and promote their use for
professional development.
 Promotion of use of accommodation available in winter and “off-seasons, e.g. by promoting
groups, conference, training, particularly with heritage and environment themes.
 Develop “memorial park”, e.g., Hospital Hill, Billie’s Hill.
 Feasibility of toilets in wharf area / identification of public toilets already available at
Donovan’s store.
 Improvement of Wi-Fi availability – options include community wide, campground only, at
Donovan’s for meetings.
 Review Okarito Community Association constitution.
 Complete Community Water Supply Safety Plan in association with Community and Public
Health.
 Acquire community defibrillator and oxygen kit.
 Okarito Forks to State Highway 6 – upgrade road alignment and formation.
 Better understand and respond to Westland District Council’s inclusion of Okarito community
area in the Whataroa Zone for Community Rating Purposes.
Whataroa
Whataroa Community Association held a public meeting in December to prioritise projects for the
township/ community rate fund and identify projects for SWCDP. Projects identified include:
 School/community swimming pool; completion of covering, seats and surrounds.
 Renovation of Community Hall, including kitchen and supper room.
 Clarify constitution and status of ownership of the Community Hall as pre-requisite to
redevelopment. (Ownership clarified and transfer to Whataroa Community Association
underway).
 Maintenance of flower bins and street-side trees.
 Exploring future options for ex Courthouse with owners.
 Completion of community playground.
 Refurbishing public toilets.
 Controlling traffic speed on State Highway 6 through Whataroa township.
 Township signage and information panels or kiosk.
 Interpreting local history and geology / geography.
 Domain fence and windfall clean-up.
Additional projects identified at other times include :
 Secure Whataroa’s role as Roading, Works & Infrastructure Base for Central South Westland
and Rural and Farm Service Centre for South Westland.
 An integrated approach to traffic speed control, getting visitors to stop and stay, landscaping,
hall, playground and domain development, information and interpretation
 Out of school activities for children
 Integrating migrant workers and families into community.
 Care for the elderly, including options for the elderly to remain in the community.
 Identify and promote local attractions and develop guiding and transport services.
 Identify a community identity theme for Whataroa
 Wilderness Trail South Westland – extension to Glaciers, develop cycle hubs and loops
based on each valley and township.
Hari Hari
Hari Hari Community Association is committed to developing its new community centre, but also
identified the following.
 Community Association needs to develop a plan for projects after the community centre is
completed.
 Developing role of South Westland Area School (SWAS) in supporting social services.
 Local provision and sustainability of social services.
 Future operations and development of Health Clinic.
 Developing facilities at SWAS as a community sports hub.
 Planning for and provision of early childhood education.
 Out of school activities for children
 Integrating migrant workers and families into community.
 Care for the elderly, including options for the elderly to remain in the community.
 Provision of same day return passenger transport to services in Hokitika and Greymouth –
consider new approaches using existing community vehicles and drivers.
 Controlling speed of traffic through Hari Hari township on State Highway 6 through electronic
signs, enforcement, traffic controlling works, landscaping.
 Encouraging visitors to stop and stay.
 Identifying a theme for Hari Hari.
 Develop attractions, including facilities at Lake Ianthe, reinstatement of Inter-Wanganui
Coastal Walkway, La Fontaine stream bank enhancement, new walkways at Amethyst power
station, hot pools, Greens Beach seals, blowholes..
 Initiating businesses to guide and transport visitors to attractions
 Establishing a community web-site.
 Promoting Hari Hari’s heritage - gathering, preserving and telling the stories.
 Rubbish system and lack of recycling.
Additional projects identified at other times include :
 Identify history and ownership of former squash courts to support allocation of insurance
payout (Completed and issue resolved).
 Re-establish charitable entity status of Hari Hari Community Association Trust. (Application
made July 2015).
 Establish an entertainment / jam night
 Promote availability of good coffee and food.
 Make the Guy Menzies aircraft replica and display more visible and accessible.
 Recognise “Hari Hari” as the official spelling of the name, rather than “Harihari”. Apply to NZ
Geographic Board
 Recognise Maori culture and heritage – perhaps in a visual form within the township.
 Promote small-scale, sustainable management, harvesting, and processing of indigenous
forest products.
 Funding and organization to support CACTUS (Combined Adolescent Challenge Training
Support Unit
 Provide roof over “Mosaic Park” to provide covered picnic area.
 Eliminate mobile phone blackspot along SH6 through Hari Hari township, upgrade internet.
Pukekura
 Recognition of Pukekura as a community in its own right.
 Parcels sent by post incurring additional rural delivery charge even if delivered to Pukekura
Postal Agency.
 Recognition in tourism brochures and maps of Pukekura as a place with accommodation,
meals refreshments and heritage attractions.
 Confusion over location of Pukekura due to Ross to Hari Hari Section of State Highway 6
being named Hari Hari Highway. Glacier Highway or SH6 avoids this confusion.
 Reconnect Pukekura to delivery of South Westland Community Contact.
 Provision of toilets and rubbish disposal facilities at regular intervals through South Westland
on State Highway 6 and show their locations on tourism maps.
 Provision of one metre wide cycle lanes on both sides of State Highway 6 through South
Westland (where physically possible).
 Conservation, development and promotion of Pukekura’s history, including forestry, sawmilling, gold-mining and as a travelers’ staging post. Possibility of support from Te Papa
National Services.
Ross
 Care for the elderly, including options for enhancing social connections and transport of
people with disabilities.
 Traffic safety on State Highway 6 through Ross, redesign of Aylmer/Moorhouse streets corner,
control of speed of traffic entering from north.
 Getting tourist traffic to stop and visit Ross and its attractions, services and businesses.
 Re-roofing, upgrading and strengthening of Ross Centennial Hall. (Major District Initiative
funding application approved).
 Confirming boundaries and ownership of Ross Cemetery lands (now completed and issue
resolved). Providing for future cemetery needs.
 Reviewing the plans for Project Ross – what has been completed, what needs to be followed
up.
 Art works for bus-shelter and squash courts.
 Ross attractions brochure for Cycle-way users.
 Re-establish War Memorial trees at Ross Domain
 Upgrade Ross Domain sports field.
.
 Identify and improve understanding of community, economic and social impacts of existing
and proposed industries.
 Heritage and visitor information interpretation panels.
 Ross Gold Town DVD – upgrade.
 Bike stands, cycle-way signs, maps, attraction brochure.
 Upgrade Ross web-site ad link with others sites.
 Community wi-fi.
 Chinese garden.
 Develop walking tracks.
 Develop guiding business based on heritage, walkways, West Coast Wilderness Trail cycleway.
 Redevelop Gate-way to South Westland & 1865-1965 Pioneers Memorial in Fergusons Bush,
re-establish lookout and picnic area, control overnight parking, human waste and rubbish
problems.
 Identifying areas of collaboration between SWCDP and Kumara-Ross Community
Development Project (K-RCDP). CDFs for both projects are co-operating with each other.
 K-RCDP has identified common interests of Kumara and Ross (including goldfields and
Chinese miner history and West Coast Wilderness Trail cycle way), and is identifying other
opportunities and projects.
 Identifying areas of collaboration between Ross Community Association, Westland Regional
Environmental Network Inc. Soc. (WRENIS, the Ross partner with Kumara Resident’s
Association in K-RCDP), and Ross Goldfields Information and Heritage Centre Inc.
 Identifying potential for integrating community plans prepared through SWCDP and K-RCDP
into a single Ross Plan suitable for incorporation in Westland District Council’s plans.
 Retention of a Police Station and staff at Ross.
Westland District Council
From Mayor’s letter of support for SWDCP application to Department of Internal Affairs:
 Supports SWCDP promoting inspirational leadership opportunities, resilience, connecting
communities together, overcoming rural isolation and putting structures and processes in
place to effect change, build community capacity and capabilities and the development of
strong, sustainable South Westland communities.
 Through SWCDP give greater impact to township development funding.
From Group Manager: Planning, Community & Environment
 Support Franz Josef Future Planning Working Group by identifying gaps in the process and
relevant government policies, pathways and agencies, and needs for and means of social and
economic impacts of options.
From Community Development Advisor
 Support and needs information for WDC application for Government project for extending
ultra-fast broadband, rural broadband and reduction of mobile telephone black spots.
 Linking community rate and community development plans.
 Input to identifying projects for the Westland District Economic Stimulus funding from
Development West Coast.
From Council Long Term Plan 2015-25 and Corporate Policy Manager
 Having integrated community planning documents rather than receiving one off project and
funding requests from the various communities.
From Emergency Management Officer
 Encourage input from communities to civil defence and emergency management plans.
 Identify interpreters available in emergencies.
From Hokitika Museum
 Promotion of use of “Outreach Fund’ to enable communities to access museum resources.
Prioritisation of projects identified by communities.
From Cr. Latham Martin – involve South Westland youth and communities in development of
Westland District Youth Strategy.
Development West Coast
From Chief Executive’s letter of support for SWDCP application to Department of Internal Affairs.
DWC sees SWCDP as a means to:
 Develop and strengthen the leadership and capability within communities to ensure
community-led development initiatives achieving successful outcomes.
 Develop stronger and more resilient communities which are able to remain sustainable in
terms of ensuring core services are retained (i.e. health, education and relevant community
infrastructure.
 Promote the direct correlation between regional development and effective and capable
leadership.
 Develop the opportunities for the West Coast to attract funding to support small communities
and develop initiatives to ensure that they remain sustainable and resilient.
 Provide wider benefits by sharing the knowledge of successful initiatives with other small and
remote communities throughout the West Coast.
From meeting with Chief Operating Officer
Promotion of, access to and use of District Economic Stimulus Package 2015.
Working Together More Fund
 The Working Together More Fund has funded “South Westland Collaborative Communities” to
encourage collaboration partnerships within and among communities and service providers
through holding community meetings and a Community Led Development Workshop. This
could lead to funding support for seed projects arising.
Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae
 Working with communities to recognise Maori culture and heritage.
 Access to health care.
 Care for the elderly.
 Traffic safety through townships and on open road.
 Opportunities for Ngati Waewae to access community development support.
Anglican Parish of Ross and South Westland
 Care for the elderly, including options for the elderly to remain in the community. Considering
opportunities for the Parish to assist.
 In February 2015 appointed a deacon/ priest in training to Franz Josef able to provide
pastoral and spiritual care and assist in identifying community development issues. Deacon’s
term ended September 2015. Golden Era Events for Elderly Group established and handed
to new leadership, which is now seeking support.
Presbyterian Support
 Care for the elderly, including options for enhancing social connections.
 Counselling services
Catholic Parish of South Westland
 Care for the elderly
 Support to migrants.
 Operates a fund to support those in need.

WestREAP (Westland Rural Education Activities Programme)
 Identifying gaps in education, community people able to lead initiatives, resources available
in community, tutor training and other needs, travel costs.
 Engagement in early childhood education.
 Transition into primary schools.
 Transporting students to events (time and financial costs).
 Support for establishing community led out of school activities for children.
 Identifying needs (in terms of Tertiary Education Commission’s definition of ‘Priority
Learners”) of at risk youth, adults with limited qualifications, Maori and Pacific people, the
needs of skills for industry, and English for speakers of other languages.
 Improving access to and capabilities in digital information, including internet access and
digital literacy. Bruce Bay is a target area for improved access.
Heritage West Coast / Nga Taonga Pumau o te Tai o Poutini
 Offers support to South Westland groups promoting and protecting heritage assets
 Inclusion of additional South Westland heritage projects in Heritage West Coast – A
Strategic Vision – 2016 review.
Community and Public Health
 Promotion of availability of opportunities for training in “Suicide Awareness”.
 Promotion of healthy nutrition and exercise.
New Coasters Inc
 Support, initiate and foster a range of events and activities to connect migrants and
newcomers to their new home on the West Coast.
 Stimulate changes in attitudes within the host community towards other cultures and promote
the positive aspects of diversity within the population.
 Identify interpreters available to assist newcomers, service providers and in emergencies - in
association with Language Line, Ministry of Ethnic Affairs.
South Westland Information and Advice Project
 Publicity, support and sustainability for Community Champions, in Bruce Bay, Fox Glacier,
Franz Josef, and Hari Hari. Recruit new champions for Haast and Whataroa. Consider needs
of Okarito and Ross. Engage more service providers. Establish link with Hokitika Heartland
Service.
Te Kauika Tangaroa- Okarito based Independent Whale Researcher, Consultant and Recoverer of
Culturally Significant Whale Materials

Needs a support organisation and funding of equipment and travel to respond to nationwide requests for whale material recovery services.
Wilderness Trail South Westland – Ross to Fox Glacier
 Identify route, land ownership, construction costs, funding. Promote public awareness and
consultation. Develop cycle hubs and loops based on each valley and township
Tourism West Coast
 Vision: that the visitor industry is a valued and major contributor to the economic, social and
environmental well-being of the West Coast’s communities.
 Mission: to showcase internationally and domestically the unique, spectacular and special
place that the West Coast is.
 Objective: More visitors, more often, staying longer, spending more.
 A Strength : The West Coast has more major visitor icons than anywhere else in New
Zealand.
 A Weakness: Very low funding for tourism marketing and not enough staff and resources to
effectively manage the role.
 Will work with local promotions groups to develop tourism marketing plans linked to the
Tourism West Coast Marketing Strategy.
Ministry of Social Development–Family Violence–It’s Not OK–It is OK To Ask for Help
Campaign
 Promotion of the New Zealand Campaign, identification, training and support of Campaign
Community Champions, and training for professionals and community members in
recognizing and responding to family violence.
West Coast District Health Board – Special Projects Office
 Identifying and supporting the health and social needs of young people.
South Westland Area School Students attending Community Led Development Workshop,
Franz Josef, 14 November 2015
 Out of school activities for primary and secondary students from Ross to Fox Glacier.
Employ an Activities Co-ordinator to arrange activities in each of Ross, Hari Hari, Whataroa,
Franz Josef and Fox Glacier on a set day each week, late afternoons and early evenings.
 Involve youth in landscaping, revitalization and future planning for Franz Josef.
 Educate Ross community (school age and adult) and visitors about local history and
attractions.
 Establish events and guiding business based on heritage and attractions of Ross and West
Coast Wilderness Cycleway.
Partnerships Initiated and/or Supported–
SWCDP has contributed to the initiation of partnerships, and / or is working with partnerships
initiated by others, as follows:
 Care of the Elderly - has reached the stage of agreement to work together on defined issues
and initiate a needs analysis. This currently involves Presbyterian Support, a private provider.
Anglican Parish of Ross and South Westland, Catholic Parish of South Westland, Ross
Community Society. Whataroa, Hari Hari and Bruce Bay community associations have
identified the same issue and will be invited to collaborate, along with the Catholic Parish of
Hokitika (which includes Ross). The South Westland Health Clinics Practice Manager has
agreed to assist with collecting data for the needs analysis.
A programme of community events for the 65+ age (Golden Era) group has been initiated by a
committee of six in Franz Josef, to cover the Okarito to Bruce Bay area. Supported by the
Anglican Parish, Franz Josef Community Council, and local businesses. A similar existing
programme in Whataroa, initiated by the Catholic Parish, could be extended to Hari Hari and
Ross.
 Hari Hari Promotions Group - (to be part of Hari Hari Community Association (HCA)). Four
businesses have agreed to participate, one wants to be kept informed, and five other
businesses or individuals have been identified as potential participants to be invited. HCA has
approved the SWCDP CDF initiating this partnership. A community leader is being sought.
 State Highway 6 Safety and Township Planning – CDF has met with New Zealand
Transport Agency’s (NZTA) performance manager who has agreed to work with Ross, Hari
Hari, Whataroa, Franz Josef and Bruce Bay community associations to identify means of
improving safety on State Highway 6 through townships and integrating highway planning with
township planning. NZTA will appoint a contact person for SWCDP and communities.
Westland District Council and the West Coast Regional Council will be invited to participate.
South Westland Lions is supporting fundraising for speed indicator signs for townships.
 Westland District Council – The CDF has met with WDC senior staff to familiarize them with
SWCDP and facilitate their involvement and response. Westland District Council has set up a
mechanism for responding to issues arising through SWCDP. A monthly meeting between the
CDF and WDC Community Development Advisor will identify relevant issues for working
together, and involve other staff as relevant. Community issues and plans will be assessed for
inclusion in future Council Annual Plans and Long Term Plans as appropriate.
The Council’s Long Term Plan 2015-25 has recognized a need for Council to continue working
with communities to develop strategies for dealing with growth, development and the
improvement of their townships and surrounding areas and the Council’s preference to have
integrated community planning documents rather than receiving one off project requests from
communities. The Community plans being developed through SWCDP have the potential to
form a basis for these. The WDC Community Development Advisor and SWCDP CDF are in
the process of together visiting community associations to advise them of these opportunities.
 Westland Safer Communities Council – has recognized the complementarities between its
mission statement and objectives and those of SWCDP, and has asked to be kept informed of
SWCDP projects and for SWCDP to spread awareness of WSCC in South Westland.
Mechanisms for this are being set up.
 Language Interpreters Register - Westland District Council’s Emergency Management
Officer, New Coasters and SWCDP have been identified as partners to compile a register of
language interpreters for each community to be called on in emergencies and other occasions.
Scenic Hotel Franz Josef and Heartland Hotel Haast have agreed to be a reference point for
identifying their staff with interpretation abilities.
 Franz Josef Natural Hazards Management- Scientific Identification of Hazards and
Development of Response Strategies - The University of Canterbury Centre for Risk,
Resilience and Renewal, in association with the University of Auckland, is working with the
Franz Josef Community to integrate the current best understanding of the scientific realities of
the hazards of fault line rupture and Waiau River flooding and erosion with the interests,
wishes and aspirations of the community to identify options for increasing resilience and
develop ways to in which Franz Josef can continue to function through and beyond the
inevitable occurrence of hazard events.
 Franz Josef Future Planning Working Group - To address the issues of natural hazards,
the longer term location of Franz Josef, infrastructure to cope with peak visitor numbers,
making provision in district and regional plans and those of regional and national agencies,
and securing of government funding, Westland District Council and Franz Josef Community
Council have convened a Franz Josef Future Planning Working Group (FJFPWG), which first
met on 19 August 2015.
WDC has requested that the SWCDF support FJPWG by identifying gaps in the process, and
identifying relevant government policies and agencies. Facilitating community social and
economic impact assessment if necessary is also a potential role for SWCDP
SWCDP has made contact with the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management
with regard to linking FJFPWP with the Reduction, Readiness, Response and Recovery goals
of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act.
The community input to the natural hazards Identification and FJFPWP will be co-ordinated by
the Franz Josef Community Council (FJCC). The SWCDP CDF has assisted with applying for
funding to support FJCC’s work, but this has not yet been successful.
 Tourism West Coast and Local Promotion Groups –Currently working with Glacier
Promotions and Haast Promotions Group, and will work with Hari Hari Promotions Group
and other local groups when established, to develop local tourism marketing plans linked to
the Tourism West Coast Marketing Strategy.
 Ross Identity and Discovery Project – The SWCDP and Kumara- Ross CDP CDFs have
convened a meeting of representatives of Ross Community Society, WRENIS, and Ross
Goldfield Heritage and Information Society to initially extend interpretation panels, but also to
promote the identity of Ross – Historic Gold Town and provide ways for residents and
visitors to discover and learn about the historic and present day Ross.
 Involve South Westland Area School Students in Community Led Development and
Westland District Youth Strategy
Discussions will be held with SWAS staff to assess potential for inclusion in 2016
programme. To involve SWCDP, Westland District Councillor Martin, WestREAP Schools
Co-ordinator, and Kumara-Ross CDP facilitator.
Project Work Underway or Planned
 The Community Development Facilitator spending time in each South Westland community to
keep community associations up to date on projects, identify priorities and next steps, and
identify leaders and organisations within the communities with potential projects and ideas.
 Assisting each community association conduct a self-review to identify its needs for
development and training to better carry out its functions. Assisting Haast Promotions Group
and Okarito Community Association in reviewing their constitutions.
 Identifying with Te Runanga o Makaawhio the SWCDP any projects in which they wish to
participate and opportunities, issues and projects where SWCDP could support the runanga.
 Seeking the views of South Westland communities on how the Project Advisory Committee
should be constituted.
 Identifying and involving people likely to be on the margins of community decision making.
 Engaging further service providers with SWCDP, South Westland Information and Advice
project, South Westland communities and organisations. Priority to confirming or establishing a
relationship with Development West Coast, West Coast Regional Council, West Coast District
Health Board and social service providers.
 Supporting schools to include SWCDP as part of their student leadership training programmes.
 Identifying community leaders and issues in the Waitaha-Kakapotahi-Pukekura areas and
whether residents want to be identified as a separate community within the SWCDP or linked
with Hari Hari or Ross or both.
 Identifying potential partners for each project and promoting development of collaborative
partnerships to deal with opportunities, issues and projects identified.
 Facilitating community planning meetings in each community and for South Westland overall to produce community development plans, including service provider plans.
 Drafting Community Development Plans for each community. Working with Westland District
Council to achieve a format suitable for inclusion in Council’s Annual plan and other plans.
 Advocacy for including South Westland community projects in Westland District Economic
Stimulus Fund programmes, seeking collaboration with other partners, and identifying national
and regional funds and programmes that could be leveraged..
 Advocacy for including South Westland communities in West Coast Regional Economic Growth
Study.
If you have a vision for a community led project, want to be involved in community decision making
and leadership, are a service provider wanting to become involved, or want more information on
SWCDP contact: David Stapleton, South Westland Community Development Facilitator,
(03) 762 6515, (027) 48 48 722, outreach@westreap.org.nz
See SWCDP Report on www.westreap.org.nz/south-westland-communities-development-project/
For further community information see www.westreap.org.nz/community-2/