Awarded to:

  • Whangarei District Council

for ...

Whangarei City Core Precinct Plan


The Whangarei City Core Precinct Plan is a non statutory, design-led, strategic plan for the Whangarei City Core and aims to set a clear strategic vision for the area. Not only is the precinct plan being used to inform the District Plan, infrastructure investment and public space improvements, it also gives the business community assurance in Council’s commitment for investment in the city.

The precinct plan identifies programmes, projects and actions that focus on improving our streets, creating better connectivity, promoting public and active transport modes; creating excitement and activity at the heart of our District. Through Long Term Plan budget allocation, transport projects and streetscape upgrades illustrated in the precinct plan are already being delivered.

Several challenges faced the project including:

  • buy-in from stakeholders
  • strategically addressing a variety of current and future planning challenges
  • the creation of a realistic plan – where tangible actions could be realised within five to ten years.


To respond to the challenges, the project team developed an inclusive and collaborative process that allowed council staff and elected members to directly inform the direction and content of the plan. Overall the extensive and open discussions between the project team and others was by far the most difficult yet most beneficial part of the process. Without their trust and buy-in, the precinct plan would not have been a success.

A number of people played a key role in the creation of the precinct plan including Alicia Lawrie, Strategic Urban Designer - Whangarei District Council and Mark Seakins, Roading Consultant - Whangarei District Council.

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