Te Hiku revitalisation project takes out another award

The revitalisation project that has transformed Kaitāia, Awanui and Ahipara has collected another award – this time from the New Zealand Planning Institute, which announced its awards in September.

Te Hiku o te Ika Revitalisation Open Spaces Project won the top prize for the Best Practise Award – Highly Commended – Non statutory planning at the New Zealand Planning Institute Awards for 2022. The Best Practice Award recognises outstanding creativity, innovation, and service. The Best Practise Award can only be awarded to a group containing a full member of the NZ Planning Institute. Felicity Foy is a full member of the institute and applied on behalf of the working group.

The $7 million Te Hiku o te Ika Revitalisation Open Spaces Project has installed pump tracks, public artworks, playground equipment, water fountains, barbeques, public seating, shade sails and much more in Kaitāia, Awanui and Ahipara. The community-led project is funded by Kānoa – the government’s Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit – with support from the council and Te Hiku Community Board.

The project has won a clutch of awards this year, including being named International Project of the Year at the 2022 IAP2 Australasia Conference last week. The placemaking project was also instrumental in Kaitāia being named the Most Beautiful Small Town in the country in February.

A working group that represents Te Hiku community stakeholders has undertaken delivery of the Te Hiku o Te Ika Open Spaces Revitalisation Masterplan. The working group meets regularly to ensure best outcomes for the community. Although it is formally a council project, the community is leading the work externally of council staff through Te Hiku o Te Ika Iwi, community stakeholders and the Masterplan working group.  

Te Hiku o Te Ika Open Spaces Revitalisation Masterplan working group members are Felicity Foy (Councillor and Infrastructure Committee Chair), John Paitai (cultural specialist), Suzie Clarke (Awanui project manager), Adele Gardener (community board chair), Delwyn Shepherd (landscape architect), Kevin Hoskins (project manager Hoskin Civil) and Andrea Panther (Kaitāia Business Association chair and project manager – Hoskin Civil). The working group also includes council asset managers, procurement specialists, financial planning staff, and project management as required.

More information about the Te Hiku o te Ika Revitalisation Open Spaces Project can be found on the project Facebook page.