Ahuriri Estuary and Coastal Edge MasterplanTe mahere pae tawhiti o te pūahatanga i Ahuriri

The Ahuriri Estuary and Coastal Edge Masterplan (15MB), adopted by Council on 7 August 2018, is a long-term, big picture vision for a thriving, healthy and resilient Ahuriri.

The plan highlights opportunities for better managing the estuary and coastal edge – improving water quality, encouraging appropriate uses, and creating a resilient estuary environment. It covers the area from Napier Port to Hawke’s Bay Airport, and from Napier Hill to the east to the Poraiti foothills in the west.

The draft was developed by Napier City Council (NCC) in partnership with Mana Ahuriri Trust, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, and the Department of Conservation.

Napier City Council recently approved $21.4 million of funding over the next 10 years for projects included in this masterplan. Work has already started on a number of these including storm water improvements, inner harbour planning/assets and the future of Lagoon Farm.

What is the focus?

The plan presents opportunities for planning and redevelopment in two areas:

• The estuary and Pandora
• Inner Harbour and Ahuriri.

 It includes key principles that are:

• Connectivity – connecting us to the special place; its history and the environment
• Quality – quality environment, quality of life, quality design
• Authenticity – keeping it real, valuing culture, celebrating uniqueness.

Many of the identified projects will evolve over time, both in the short and long term. They will require partnership, consultation and engagement with key stakeholders, wider Hapū entitles, and the community relevant to its place and use. This continued engagement will mean the masterplan will be a living, evolving document.

What was our process?

The masterplan was developed in consultation with the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Department of Conservation and Mana Ahuriri*. Following this, we talked with other stakeholders and then commenced an extensive two-month consultation with the Napier public. A number of changes to the plan arose out of this consultation.

It was clear from the massive amount of feedback we received that the Napier and wider Hawke's Bay communities are passionate about the Ahuriri estuary and coastal edge. We've collated this feedback into two reports - a full version and shorter version that'll give you a good summary of things. For privacy reasons, we've redacted the addresses and phone numbers of those offering feedback.

We have the complete masterplan available as a downloadable PDF (15MB). 

 *Mana Ahuriri Trust is the Post Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE) established to represent Ahuriri Hapū through their Treaty of Waitangi settlement.