The Draft Te Rautaki Auahataka me te Ahurea o Queenstown Lakes District / Queenstown Lakes District Creativity & Culture Strategy is now open for community consultation, and we invite you to have your say.
 

Last year, we heard from our community what you felt was important for the future of creativity, culture and heritage in our district. Now, you have the opportunity to submit your feedback and ensure the Draft Strategy is truly representative of our people and our place, now and into the future.

Creativity, culture and heritage play a key role in the Queenstown Lakes District across several aspects of well-being including social, community, economic, environmental and individual. In February 2023, a steering group was formed to support the development of a community-led strategy to enhance, support and celebrate these important aspects of living here.

The resulting Draft Te Rautaki Auahataka me te Ahurea o Queenstown Lakes District | Queenstown Lakes District Creativity and Culture Strategy is now available for public comment. It has been developed through a process of collaboration and partnership with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), Regional Arts Organisation Three Lakes Cultural Trust (TLCT), Lakes District Museum and Kāi Tahu, and is informed by the collective aspirations of our communities.

“Conversations with the community, stakeholders and key partners have helped reveal the potential that is already here in the district,” says Gizelle Regan, Chair of the Strategy Steering Committee and Chair of Three Lakes Cultural Trust.

“This ten-year vision driven by the community is intended to help create a future where creativity and culture play an ever-increasing and important role in enriching the lives of both the people who live here and those who visit. It also aims to diversify the district’s economy and make it a more attractive place to live, work and set up business,” she said.

QLDC Community Partnerships Manager Marie Day adds, “By bringing people and organisations with common interests together, we can create a future where our cultural identity is widely celebrated and understood.”

The actions outlined in this Draft Strategy are intended to ensure that the Queenstown Lakes District remains a special place for generations to come.

“Development of the Draft Strategy started with community engagement early last year, with seven community hui held districtwide and an opportunity to provide insights through an engagement survey,” says Samantha Kirk, Head of Three Lakes Cultural Trust.

Building on this early engagement, the Strategy Steering Group are keen to hear from the community on the Draft Creativity and Culture Strategy. “Make sure your friends and whānau have their say too. The more voices that contribute, the more representative of our place and our people the final strategy will be.”

Now, it’s time to have your say. Do you think the Draft Strategy accurately reflects our people and place? How does it capture the many voices of our community? Your voice matters, and we want to hear from you.

Submissions close April 19. 

Once community feedback is collated and incorporated in the draft, the final Strategy will be presented to Full Council to consider endorsing in June.

We are also running a series of hui and drop-in sessions across the district and would love to see you there. 

Community hui dates:

Tāhuna Queenstown 
Rāapa / Wednesday 3 April, 6.00pm – 8.00pm 
Queenstown Events Centre, Frankton.
RSVP here 

Wānaka
Rāpare / Thursday 11 April, 6pm – 8pm
Wānaka Community Hub, McDougall Street
RSVP here

Glenorchy
Rāmere / Friday 12 April, 4pm – 6pm
The Headwaters Eco Lodge
RSVP here

Community drop-in sessions:

Tāhuna Queenstown 
Rāmere / Friday 12 April, 11:30am – 1pm
Frankton Library, Hawthorne Drive, Frankton 

 Wānaka
Rātū / Tuesday 9 April, 10:30am – 12pm
Wānaka Library, Dunmore Street