On November 7-8, Katherine Hill attended the Taituarā Community Plan Forum in Auckland. Taituarā is the leading network for local government professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand, with around one thousand members.

The Taituarā Community Plan Forum is an annual event that provides professional development and networking opportunities for Long-Term Plan (LTP) project managers, policy staff, and others significantly involved in the LTP.

Here are Katherine’s reflections from this thought-provoking event:

• Dr Ganesh Nana opened the Forum and provided a relatable, easily understandable situation report on the short- and medium-term economic future.
  
  
• Katherine realised that the sector is facing significant, far-ranging, and fast-paced change. She found it great to be in a room full of professionals who are passionate about supporting communities through this.
  
  
• Manawatū District Council, Tasman District Council—Te Kaunihera o te tai o Aorere, and Auckland Council had some great highlights of recent engagements that have put the community at the heart of guiding strategic decisions.
  
  
• Finishing the Forum, Elizabeth Hughes, Bruce Robertson, and Paul Hope led some challenging discussions about the great potential for our LTPs and Consultation Documents. It was noted that the system is not giving benefits in its current form. This acknowledged that the LTP drives the wrong conversations.
  
  We must elevate strategic conversations with our communities outside the LTP to become truly strategy-led. Those in attendance recognised that the 2024 LTP has been probably the most challenging and uncertain environment of the eight LTP cycles to date. This highlighted conversations around building and retaining experience and strengthening the well-being of the whole LTP team.
  
  
• The Forum gave us the chance to celebrate the work of everyone involved and those 12 Councils still developing their 2025 LTPs.
  
  
• Congratulations to the finalists of the 2024 CD Competition! Ashburton District Council were recognised with a Highly Commended, and Hutt City Council’s Whaowhia Te Pae Tawhiti: Help Us Take the Next Steps won Best CD of 2024. Massive congratulations to everyone involved with both!

The Team at Waugh Infrastructure are encouraged to hear all these reflections from Katherine, and we hope they can start a good discussion about these topics in our industry during these challenging times.