Making decisions about sport and recreation spaces is complex. Facilities are expensive, highly valued by communities, and expected to meet changing needs over decades. In the Horizons region, the He rā ki tua – Horizons Region Spaces & Places Plan for Sport and Recreation provides a shared framework to guide these decisions, ensuring investment is evidence-based, equitable, and aligned across partners.

The Whanganui East Pool case shows how this regional framework can move from strategy to action.

As part of Whanganui District Council’s 2024 Annual Plan process, the future of Whanganui East Pool was questioned due to rising capital and operating costs. Rather than making a decision in isolation, Council first commissioned an independent consultant to assess Whanganui’s aquatics needs. Using the He rā ki tua framework, the consultant analysed the district’s current and future needs, the role of outdoor swimming within the wider aquatics network, and the trade-offs associated with different investment options.

Importantly, this work did not produce a single “answer”. Instead, it provided a clear, regionally aligned evidence base that set out needs, constraints, and possible pathways — grounded in the principles of He rā ki tua, including network-based provision, equity of access, and long-term sustainability.

Rather than officers alone interpreting this analysis, Council then established a Citizen’s Assembly to test the findings and develop recommendations on behalf of the community. Forty residents, selected to reflect Whanganui’s demographic diversity, were supported to engage with the consultant’s report, hear from subject-matter experts, and explore how the evidence aligned with community values and lived experience.

Over several weeks, the Assembly worked through the information, weighing costs, access, equity, and long-term outcomes — effectively translating the regional framework into local judgement. The Assembly produced two clear recommendations, giving elected members confidence that decisions were both evidence-informed and community-backed.

Guided by this process, Council committed to refurbishing and upgrading Whanganui East Pool while also progressing a business case for future investment in the Splash Centre, with funding included in the 2027–2030 Long-Term Plan.

This case demonstrates the value of He rā ki tua as more than a strategy document. By grounding technical analysis, structuring community deliberation, and guiding final investment decisions, the regional framework enabled a transparent, trusted, and durable outcome — one that balances local priorities with long-term regional sustainability.