The project team was initially challenged by budgetary constraints, a wide variety of opinions on what should happen in Mahara Place, some resistance to change, and a lack of community buy-in due to a history of unbuilt projects.
We first sought to change how the community perceived Mahara place and re-establish it as the place where town centre and community activities could take place, providing places for people to stop, rest and enjoy.
The Mahara Place upgrade was split into two phases; Phase One was completed in 2019 and Phase Two in 2024.
A significant element of Phase One was developing and undertaking a robust community engagement process. This included:
- Two rounds of community open days
- Establishment of the Mahara Place Development Committee, made up of community and business representatives
- Communication with and presentation to the Waikanae Community Board
- Development of a robust communication strategy to keep the community and local businesses well-informed
- Creation of presentation and communication tools, including 3D fly-throughs and virtual reality simulations
- Formation of the Kapiti Town Centres working group to ensure that Iwi was at the table and able to contribute meaningfully in all phases of the project.
Early contractor involvement with the project team allowed for the design, budget, construction methodology and procurement to be tested and agreed to early, which was a key factor in the successful completion of Phase One.
Mahara Place now provides a sense of place that people can strongly associate with and feel part of. Improved pedestrian access and better connections to the railway station will make it a vibrant, inclusive, well-connected destination that supports town centre businesses.
