Council and Chamber of Commerce to work together to grow Kāpiti

The Council has committed to working closely with the Kāpiti Coast Chamber of Commerce to better serve the business community and unlock the district’s economic potential.

“We’ve had very productive discussions with the Chamber to help us understand more about how we can better support Kāpiti businesses and boost economic performance across the district. We have seen improvements in our open for business approach, but we acknowledge there’s room for improvement,” says Ōtaki Ward Councillor James Cootes.

Council Acting Group Manager of Strategy and Planning, Kevin Black, says the discussions centred around the results of the Chamber’s recent survey, which gathered feedback from a selection of local businesses on what the Council is like to work with.

“The findings will help us get clearer on what businesses need from us – whether it’s changes to service delivery or simply being better at explaining why we make certain decisions.” 

“We’ll be reaching out to businesses early next year to continue these conversations.”

Mr Black says the survey is timely for the Council, which is also about to involve the business community in a refresh of the Kāpiti District Economic Development Strategy - a roadmap for Council, business and the community to foster a thriving local economy. 

“Businesses have a unique and valuable perspective to bring to the table, so we’ve set up a series of workshops in mid-November to hear their views on the priorities and direction of the Strategy.”

“Kāpiti is poised for huge economic growth over the next few years, and the Council is pleased to be working with the Chamber to help Kāpiti businesses thrive.” 

Heather Hutchings, Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce Chair says the Chamber welcomes the commitment from the Council to work more closely with the business community.

“Kāpiti has unprecedented opportunities for growth, and our businesses are the backbone of the economy. We are pleased the Council has heard and acknowledged the issues raised by our businesses, particularly as we begin working on the Economic Development Strategy refresh.

“We look forward to working together to enhance and grow the district’s economy.”