What is He rā ki tua?

Multiple rugby fields seen from high angle view. The field in the foreground is surrounded by a racetrack and there is a stadium seating area on the far side
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What is He rā ki tua?
Aerial photograph of a green landscape with many parked cars and a racing track visible in the middle distance

Purpose

He rā ki tua – Horizons Region Spaces and Places Plan is a regional plan covering sport, recreation, and play facilities (spaces & places) in the Horizons Region (Manawatū-Whanganui in New Zealand), for the period 2023-2043.

The goal is to provide strategic direction for planning, investment, and decision-making around physical activity infrastructure: playgrounds, courts, fields, trails, pools, etc. The plan aims to help councils, funders, sport and recreation organisations and communities to:

  • Collaborate more closely across the region
  • Make decisions based on evidence about what and where facilities are needed
  • Better use, maintain and share existing facilities
  • Ensure equity, accessibility and sustainability in facility provision   

He rā ki tua – Horizons Region Spaces and Places Plan is not a local-project plan. It is a high-level regional guide intended to shape longer-term planning.

Key Findings and Principles

The report identifies six main strategic opportunities for the region:

  1. Ensure facilities are “fit for purpose”
    Upgrading existing infrastructure to ensure spaces and places meet current demands.
  2. Encourage shared use / hubs
    Using venues by multiple clubs, sharing school facilities, creating multi-use hubs.
  3. Provide better ancillary facilities
    More / better changing rooms/showers/toilets (including gender-neutral), storage, spectator amenities.
  4. Improve playing field quality and capacity
    Better drainage, more floodlighting, dedicated training spaces, recognising traditional Māori sports needs.
  5. Improve accessibility
    Access in terms of cost, transport, physical access; more covered or all-weather spaces; good parking and pathways. 
  6. Equity and inclusivity
    Ensuring facilities meet the needs of people who have been underserved (by gender, age, disability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status).

Planning Principles

Projects should be guided by these principles:

  • Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi: involving Māori and respecting cultural values.
  • People-centred: making sure facilities serve community needs, enhance wellbeing, support positive experience.
  • Network approach: planning with a mind to existing assets and future demand, avoiding duplication and making the most of what already exists.
  • Shared use: partnerships, multi-use facilities. 
  • Equity & inclusion: ensuring facilities are physically and socially accessible to all. 
  • Sustainability: considering lifecycle costs and environmental impact and resilience.

Regional priorities

He rā ki tua – Horizons Region Spaces and Places Plan also identified regional priorities for each of our councils.