Recap of 18 Aug 2026 Paekākāriki Community Board meeting

September 1, 2026

The night’s meeting was chaired by Kelsey Lee, in her last meeting as Chair. Apologies from KCDC GM Hara Adams and Board member Elyse Robêrt.

During the meeting Elyse Robêrt was formally elected Chair and board member Himiona Grace was elected Deputy Chair. Kelsey remains on the Board.

Public Speaking

Jo and Bonnie, spoke to their grant applications. Seeking funding towards attending scout jamboree.
Rachel Patrick speaking to their grant application for funding for Paekākāriki Play Club (afterschool programme) for art supplies
Jen spoke (with singing support from the group!) to their application to fund supplies for the Paekākāriki Singing Group.
Doris Zuur spoke thanking the Board for the funds supporting installation of a water tank at the community gardens and orchard which will support community resilience. Doris thanked the Board for their grant for the Tool Library as it helped them to sign their rental hire agreement with confidence they had the funds to pay.

Updates from KCDC

Staff member gave an update on the community facilities approach, draft plan in place by the end of this year

Members business

Elyse (Kelsey read report in her absence):

LGNZ Micro-credential course: Elyse asks $600 approval from the Board.
Wainuiwhenua briefing given to the Board, and subsequently to councillors. Another meeting of all interested parties is being scheduled
KCDC have
YEM Conference
Surf club visit, famil with the new building which will be available for hire after its opening October 17th.

Himiona:

Opening of village health hub was attended by Board members. Its survival is dependent on hireage by other practitioners

Tina:

Met with groups across the village, Over 60s group, surf club, Tilley Rd residents re: funding, Dave Mills re the Truck stop environmental concerns, seawall arts group, Pride AGM, PICI AGM. Attending environment and communities committee meetings at KCDC.
Surf club working with Board re: developing some surf safety learning for rangatahi and wider community.

Cr Himiona Grace

Amalgamation and Head Start process: KCDC conducted a very swift community consultation process that highlighted community preferences. First preference was to become a unitary, followed by joining Horowhenua in the north, and the third preference was to join Wellington as a ‘super city’. KCDC didn’t submit their own proposal but have been included in the Wellington regional one. Decision will be made by the Cabinet next year.
Long Term Plan: pre-engagement has now finished. Councillors were going out to communities to hear whether KCDC was on the right track. Paekākāriki raised issues like parking in the village and development of housing, Tilley Rd flooding. Formal LTP consultation coming soon.

Cr Bede Laracy

Amalgamation: option to go with Horowhenua is not as simple as it seems, as Horowhenua are looking to go with Palmerston North and KCDC didn’t have conversations with PNCC. Cr Laracy notes Horowhenua’s community consultation found a keenness to merge with KCDC. Next step is to meet with PNCC and Horowhenua councillors to understand some further options. Watch this space!
Long Term Plan engagement: September community board engagement and supporting CBs to engage with communities on this.

NB: Community boards will continue next triennium, whether or not council amalgamates. Future decisions on retention of boards and other representation arrangements will be made during the detailed design phase of amalgamation.

Grants

Board Member Tina Pope notes that the Paekākāriki Clubs and Services Club will soon be considering applications and the Board will work on sharing application process and criteria with the wider community.

A record number of 8 applications were considered at the meeting.

Community board considered the following funding applications:

Granted

Lions Clubs of Kapiti – Gavin Wadham, on behalf of Lions Clubs of Kapiti, has applied for a grant of $300 to assist with the costs of the food parcels street collection for 2026.
Kāpiti Dying Matters – Laura Ellis, on behalf of Kāpiti Dying Matters, has applied for a grant of $250 to assist with the cost of running a community event in Paekākāriki as part of Dying Matters Week.
Bookmark Kāpiti CycleStory – Keryn Mells on behalf of Bookmark Kāpiti CycleStory, has applied for a grant of $500 to assist with the cost of offering a web-based, self-guided, story-telling tour (cycling or walking) of heritage and cultural points in Paekākāriki, as part of Heritage Month.
Paekākāriki Community Singing Group – Jenny Clark, on behalf of the Paekākāriki Community Singing Group, has applied for a grant of $214 to assist with the cost of purchasing a set of plastic sleeved folders to share words of songs and other related printing costs.

Left to lie on the table, further info required

Age Concern Kāpiti – Sally Heppenstall, on behalf of the Age Concern Kāpiti, has applied for a grant of $350 to assist with the cost of running the Kāpiti Seniors Expo.

Declined Board funds but recommended to Campe Estate trust

Parent-led Playgroup for Autistic Children – Jac Lynch, on behalf of a Parent-led Playgroup for Autistic Children, has applied for a grant of $750 to assist with the cost of running a parent-led playgroup at Paekākāriki playcentre for autistic tamariki and their whanau.
Paekākāriki Play Club Charitable Trust – Rachel Patrick, on behalf of the Paekākāriki Play Club Charitable Trust, has applied for a grant of $500 to assist with set up costs, such as building a supply of craft materials, for an after-school care programme for students of Paekākāriki school.

Applications to the Campe Estate:

Board Recommended. Nourish Trust had two applications considered; one to the Community Board and one they made to the Campe Estate Trust. Both asking for $500 to assist with the costs of providing Christmas Food Hampers to Paekākāriki families in 2026. The Board declined to fund and instead recommended both applications to the Campe Estate Trust.
Board Declined. Applications by Arabella Calder ($500 to attend scout jamboree) and Bonnie McColl ($500 to attend scout jamboree) were declined, as the board have not historically award funds to individuals. They also declined to recommend their applications to Campe Estate.

Full agenda, reports, and minutes are available on the KCDC website here.