Vision & Principles

Lake Karapiro Maungatautari

A draft FutureProof vision has been developed for consideration. The final vision will provide the basis for the strategy direction and detailed implementation actions.

In 2060 the sub region:

  • Has a diverse and vibrant metropolitan centre strongly tied to distinctive, thriving towns and rural communities
  •  Is the place of choice for those looking for opportunities to live, work, invest and visit
  • Is the place where natural environments, landscapes and heritage are protected and a healthy Waikato River is at the heart of the region's identity
  • Has productive partnerships within it's communities, including Tangata Whenua
  • Has affordable and sustainable infrastructure
  • Has sustainable resource use

FutureProof Principles

Future Proof is about how the area should develop into the future and underlying this are fundamental principles which apply in respect of the Strategy and its implementation. The ongoing application of these principles is key to effective implementation and should be used in assessing and measuring proposals against the Strategy and any subsequent changes that are made to it.

It should be noted that as a matter of course, regard would be had to the requirements of any national policy or regional policy statement in the implementation of Future Proof.

Effective Governance, Leadership, Integration, Implementation and Productive Partnerships

  • Ensure that collaborative implementation arrangements are in place for effective strategy governance and implementation.
  • Ensure that the Strategy is integrated into the partners and other implementation agencies policy documents and plans.
  • Encourage the partners to be advocates for the Future Proof Strategy to central government and other implementation agencies.
  • Ensure that collaborative implementation arrangements are in place for effective strategy governance and implementation.

Diverse and Vibrant Metropolitan Centre linked to Thriving Town and Rural Communities and Place of Choice - Live, Work, Invest and Visit

  • Maintain the Metropolitan Hamilton CityHeart as the vibrant retail, business, arts and social "heart" of the sub-region with it becoming the primary residential intensification area for the sub-region.
  • Ensure the sub-region‟ towns and villages retain their individual identities as distinct towns and villages with thriving town centres that support people to "live, work, play and visit".
  • Promote increased densities in new residential development and more intensive redevelopment of existing urban areas.
  • Encourage development to locate adjacent to existing urban settlements and nodes in both the Waikato and Waipa Districts and that rural residential development occurs in a sustainable way to ensure it will not compromise the Future Proof settlement pattern or create demand for the provision of urban services.
  • Ensure commercial and industrial development is located in agreed sub-regional areas and that commercial and office development is not located in areas that undermine the areas of influence of the Hamilton CityHeart, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Ngaruawahia, Raglan and Huntly.
  • Ensure that the areas identified within the strategic agreement between Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council are transferred to the City Council with sequencing agreed between the City Council and Waikato District Council, and noting that additional boundary adjustments may be negotiated in the future.
  • Provide housing and lifestyle choice within defined locations, including papakānga, with greater emphasis on good urban design outcomes.
  • Maintain the separation of urban areas by defined greenbelts and open space.
  • Recognise and provide for the growth of rural towns and villages within agreed urban limits.
  • Ensure a cohesive commercial and retail strategy that supports existing commercial centres, towns and villages within the sub-region is developed to ensure such places remain vibrant and valued.
  • Maintain the Metropolitan Hamilton CityHeart as the vibrant retail, business, arts and social "heart" of the sub-region with it becoming the primary residential intensification area for the sub-region.

Protection of Natural Environments, Landscapes and Heritage and Healthy Waikato River as Heart of Regions Identity

  • Maintain and enhance the cultural and heritage values of the sub-region.
  • Ensure that the settlement pattern generally avoids sensitive natural environments (streams, wetlands, lakes, rivers and important landscapes) unless there is potential for significant environmental gain.
  • Maintain and enhance important ecological areas, corridors and biodiversity.
  • Restore the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River including adopting an integrated management approach.
  • Maintain and enhance the cultural and heritage values of the sub-region.

Affordable and Sustainable Infrastructure

  • Encourage development in existing settlements to support existing infrastructure.
  • Protect existing and future infrastructure and transport corridors, including the Waikato Expressway, Southern Links and rail corridors from development that could constrain or compromise the efficiency of infrastructure and transport corridor operation.
  • Ensure development is planned to support efficient transport infrastructure including public transport provision and reduced dependence on motor vehicles.
  • Recognise the need for stronger links between land use and transport in respect of the settlement pattern and ensure capacity is matched with development potential.
  • Ensure large scale community facilities and services are planned on a sub-regional basis to avoid duplication of resources. 
  • Encourage development in existing settlements to support existing infrastructure.

Sustainable Resource Use

  • Protect versatile and quality farmland for productive purposes through the provision of limited rural lifestyle development around existing towns and villages and encouraging a more compact urban footprint.
  • Protect versatile and quality farmland for productive purposes through the provision of limited rural lifestyle development around existing towns and villages and encouraging a more compact urban footprint.
  • Ensure development is directed away from potential and known hazard areas.
  • Ensure development is directed away from areas suited to energy generation and transmission, and important mineral resources (including sand and aggregate)
  • Ensure that planning for the future use of water maintains water quality and ensures that water is used efficiently
  • Promote planning for a energy efficient, low carbon emissions, sustainable environment
  •  Ensure communities are well informed about sustainability principles and are encouraged to incorporate them into daily life

Tāngata Whenua

  • Ensure that the values, principles, aspirations, roles and responsibilities and the place of tāgata whenua are incorporated into strategy governance and implementation.
  • Recognise the unique relationship that tāgata whenua have with the whenua awa, moana, maunga, taiao katoa: the land, waterways, ocean, mountains, wider environment and other people in the sub-region
  • Ensure that the values, principles, aspirations, roles and responsibilities and the place of tāgata whenua are incorporated into strategy governance and implementation.