On this page: What is the Future Proof Strategy? | 2024 Future Proof Strategy Review | Read the Draft 2024 Future Proof Strategy | Hearings | 2022 Future Proof Strategy | More information
Future Proof Strategy review
What is the Future Proof Strategy?
The Future Proof Strategy is a 30-year growth management and implementation plan for the Hamilton, Waipā, Waikato and Matamata-Piako sub-region. The Strategy is essential to managing growth in a staged and co-ordinated way while addressing complex planning issues.
The Strategy incorporates seven transformational moves for change:
- Iwi aspirations
- Waikato River at the heart
- A comprehensive and fundamental evolution of our transport system
- A vibrant metro core and lively metropolitan centres
- A strong and productive economic corridor
- Thriving communities and neighbourhoods
- Water wise and water sensitive communities.
In 2022 the Future Proof Strategy was updated to include the Hamilton to Auckland (H2A) Corridor Plan and the Hamilton-Waikato Metropolitan Spatial Plan. This resulted in changes to the settlement pattern and a different approach for assessing out-of-sequence and unanticipated development.
2024 Future Proof Strategy Review
Further updates to the Future Proof Strategy are now needed under the National Policy Statement for Urban Development. Updates are also required so we can respond to other changes in national and regional direction and legislation such as the Emissions Reduction Plan and National Policy Statements for Highly Productive and Indigenous Biodiversity. We have also updated the strategy to reflect the inclusion of our most recent partner, Matamata Piako District Council.
These updates mean the Future Proof Strategy will become a Future Development Strategy under the National Policy Statement on Urban Development. This means that councils will legally need to reflect and incorporate the Future Proof Strategy when preparing or changing Resource Management Act (RMA) planning documents.
Public consultation on the draft Strategy closed on Monday 19 February 2024.
What has changed?
As well as including Matamata-Piako and updating the Strategy to reflect changes in legislation, the Strategy is being updated to:
- reflect the work that has progressed on waters, transport and climate change
- identify the critical infrastructure required to enable the development planned for under the Strategy
- reflect the updated Housing and Business Development Capacity Assessments which are currently being finalised.
We have enough planned development capacity for residential land however the industrial land picture is not so clear at this point so more time is needed to work out the needs of the sub-region and how best to respond.
Therefore, no changes to the settlement pattern are planned through this update.
Read the Draft 2024 Future Proof Strategy
You can read and download the draft Strategy and its summary version, below. The documents are available as interactive flipbooks and PDFs.
Full Draft 2024 Future Proof Strategy
Draft 2024 Future Proof Strategy - part A [PDF, 26 MB]
Draft 2024 Future Proof Strategy - part B [PDF, 55 MB]
Draft 2024 Future Proof Strategy - part C [PDF, 6 MB]
Draft 2024 Future Proof Strategy - part D [PDF, 6 MB]
Draft 2024 Future Proof Strategy - part E [PDF, 8 MB]
Summary
Draft 2024 Future Proof Strategy - Summary version [PDF, 15 MB]
Supporting documents
Business Development Capacity Assessment 2023 - Waikato, Waipā and Hamilton City [PDF, 4.22MB]
Housing Development Capacity Assessment (Residential HBA) - M.E Consulting [PDF, 4 MB]
Housing Development Capacity Assessment (Residential HBA) - FINAL - M.E Consulting - [4.52MB]
NOTE: The final version is now available and supersedes the final draft (November 2023). There are no substantial changes between the versions. The final version (Dec 2023) has some minor updates to section 7.4.2 to align tables/figures. The conclusions have not changed.
Business Development Capacity and Demand Assessment 2023: Update - M.E Consulting [6.46 MB]
Housing Assessment 2022: June 2022 - Matamata-Piako District Council [3.06 MB]
Hearings
Consultation on the draft Strategy closed on Monday 19 February 2024.
Hearings will be held on Thursday, 21 March and Friday, 22 March in the Waikato Regional Council Chambers, 160 Ward Street, Hamilton.
2022 Future Proof Strategy
If you'd like to refer back to the 2022 Future Proof Strategy, you can view this here.
Have a question or want further information?
We'd be happy to chat! Please email futureproofcoordinator@waikatoregion.govt.nz and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.