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What areas does the FDS cover?

The study area for the FDS are the existing urban areas of Napier and Hastings. 

• Napier
• Taradale
• Hastings
• Havelock North
• The surrounding Heretaunga Plains and,
• Peripheral areas including Bay View and Whirinaki, Whakatu, Clive, Haumoana and Te Awanga and a number of settlements on the Heretaunga Plains.

Note: The study area shows land that could be considered for development, however, we recognise that within these areas there is land which would be inappropriate for this purpose.   

VIEW A MAP OF THE FDS STUDY AREA HERE

Community input

Pre-engagement: A pop-up information shop in Hastings city and on-line survey (October/November 2023) garnered a lot of information from residents, organisations and businesses.

The FDS team will provide updates on the progress of the plan and any further opportunities for input, with official consultation on a formal draft expected to be held mid-year 2024.

To sign up for updates, scroll to the bottom of this page.

What does our FDS have to include?

The FDS must show:

• Where we will grow; the general locations for Napier and Hastings growth capacity (in existing and new urban areas) over the next 30 years
• The infrastructure needed to support and service that growth, and
• Development constraints.

The development constraints will include the flood risk knowledge being gathered post Cyclone Gabrielle (2023).

The FDS must also include a clear statement of iwi and hapū values and aspirations for urban development.

What is a ‘well-functioning urban environment’?

The National Policy Statement on Urban Development says that, at a minimum, ‘well-functioning urban environments’ are ones that:

• Have or enable a variety of homes that meet people’s needs in terms of type of housing, price and location
• Have a range of locations available to develop that meet the needs of businesses
• Enable Māori to express their cultural traditions
• Support market competition
• Have good accessibility for all between where people live, work, play, access community services, natural places and open spaces; this must include walking, cycling and public transport
• Support reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and  
• Are resilient to the likely current and future effects of climate change.

These standards will guide the development of our FDS, including our conversations with our communities and the technical work required to support good decision-making.
We are in the midst of conversations about our recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle, which will likely continue through 2023 and into 2024.  Those rebuild conversations will influence the FDS issues and options and emerging scenarios. Cyclone Recovery will be a separate process from the FDS, but we will need to ensure each process works collaboratively to prevent overlap.

What happens to HPUDS?

The FDS will replace the current Heretaunga Plains Urban Development Strategy (HPUDS) as our key strategic growth strategy. Land previously identified in HPUDs for urban development is considered urban under the national policy statement on highly productively land. All priority areas under HPUDs will be brought forward under the FDS but will still be reassessed for appropriateness to develop.

What is the timing for delivering the FDS?

The FDS must be completed in late 2024. It will be reviewed every three years to ensure it takes into account changes in population and business forecasts, and changes to the environment and climate change impacts. Its implementation plan (‘the doing’) will be reviewed annually.

Who are the ‘FDS Partners’?

The Napier Hastings Future Development Strategy is being prepared as a partnership between the three councils and three iwi authorities: 

A joint committee with members from each of these partners has been appointed to oversee preparation of the FDS. 

How can I get involved in the FDS?

Stage 1

The first round of public engagement was held in October and November (2023), via a pop-up shop open in Hastings city  and survey. An update on the project will be published in February 2024.

Stage 2

The draft FDS will be open for formal public submissions in mid-2024.

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