Napier Mayor Column: Kirsten Wise reflects on the importance of sharing information with the community

Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise. Photo / Paul Taylor

This is the last edition of our community newspaper.

It’s a time for us to reflect on the importance of sharing information with our community, from human-interest stories to project updates to ways to have your say on important issues that affect the city and the region.

With the weekly paper going, we all need to find new and additional ways to stay informed. At Napier City Council, we have introduced a quarterly newsletter to all households and an e-newsletter sent out monthly to everyone on our mailing list (you can get added to the list by going to napier.govt.nz).

We also use social media for some issues and areas of interest, and much of our news appears on our website. In some cases, we also post information on our public-engagement website, sayitnapier.nz.

The media landscape is changing fast in New Zealand, and our reliance on it to get our messages out there has had to change with it. What will never change is the importance of having a community voice in decision-making.

To achieve that, we need to ensure that the public is informed and has all the information they need to help us make good decisions.

In 2025, there are some significant topics that need your views. The District Plan and the Future Development Strategy will affect the future of land use in Napier and the wider region.

Both of these need your input. Local Water Done Well, the government-mandated change to our water services delivery, will also need your voice.

Our draft Annual Plan will include many elements that require your views. Your attention and focus will be needed on the future of Māori Wards in Napier.

The local body elections in October are nothing without public opinion. Public participation is at the heart of local government. Keeping you informed so you can make educated decisions on the future of our city is a vital part of our role.

You also have a role to play in keeping informed on what’s happening in our city. You can do this in many ways, from attending council meetings and hearings to making submissions on draft plans to staying up-to-date on social media.

The more you know, the more you can be involved and the more you can be an active part of making Napier an even better place to be.