Everything Kāpiti
Ngā Pitopito kōrero mai i te Kaunihera o Kāpiti
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Kia ora Kāpiti
Nothing beats a Kāpiti summer so how good was it to be treated to a couple of perfect days for Wellington Anniversary weekend. The long weekend may be over but there are still plenty of ways to experience Kāpiti this summer. Check out the What's On section to make sure you don't miss anything.
In this week's edition we keep you posted on the latest toxic algae alerts; remind you how to get involved with Council; update you on some of the work at our parks, and much more!
Mā te wā – have a great week.
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 What's new
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Red alert – toxic algae increases
Unfortunately, toxic algae levels have continued to increase in the Waikanae River at Jim Cooke Park. This site is currently under a red alert/high risk status. Swimmers and people with dogs are strongly advised to avoid the Waikanae River along the reaches of the park.
An amber alert/caution advised status is also in place for the Ōtaki River near the Old State Highway 1 bridge.
Toxic algae can make people sick and can be fatal to dogs. These brown or black velvety mats grow on rocks in the riverbeds, wash up on riverbanks, and have a strong musty smell. If you think your dog has swallowed toxic algae, take them to the nearest vet immediately.
Please see your doctor or ring Healthline 0800 611 116 if you feel unwell after swimming.
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 Your Council
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Nau mai haere mai! We want to hear from you
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We're calling on you to get involved with Council mahi this triennium.
Every year we seek community input through a range of consultations and engagements, and there are a bunch of ways to have your say on these. Keep an eye on our regular channels to see what’s coming up.
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You can also attend Council meetings, arrange to speak during or before them, or catch up on what happens through our recordings.
Kāpiti Coast District Mayor Janet Holborow says increasing public participation is a priority for the Council.
“We’re looking forward to hearing people’s thoughts on a range of topics and we’re hopeful these forums will provide us with a richer understanding of what matters most to the people that live in our district,” Mayor Holborow says.
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Discover our world of digital devices
Did you know our libraries have a collection of digital devices aimed at boosting the computing capability of our community?
In the last year our libraries have stocked up on a range of digital tools for everyone in our community to use to grow their digital literacy and confidence.
The kit includes virtual reality headsets, 3D printers, programmable robots, and laptops and tablets to help with tasks like online banking, research, word processing or shopping.
Most importantly, we’ve also got Digital Inclusion Specialist Zed Ng on board to lead our libraries digital work programme and provide opportunities to experience new technologies in a safe way.
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 Our people and communities
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Swimming lessons for everyone
Have you booked your term one swimming lessons yet? They’re for all ages and stages - from little ones through to adults. Our instructors are experienced, trained, and passionate about keeping everyone safe in the water.
We offer free 15-minute assessments to determine the best level for you to enrol in and to help swimmers get the most out of their lessons.
Book your spot at Waikanae Pool, Ōtaki Pool, or Coastlands Aquatic Centre by talking to our friendly reception team today.
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Register now for the Aotearoa Bike Challenge
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Get 2023 off to the right start with the Aotearoa Bike Challenge!
It’s fun, free, and great for mind, body, and soul. Plus, the environment will thank you for leaving the car at home.
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We've got the trails, we've got the weather, so why not hop on and start pedaling. Rides as short as 10 minutes can be logged and there are great prizes to be won.
This year we’ve partnered with organisers Love to Ride to create a Kāpiti Coast specific leader board so you can see how you stack up against other locals.
A bit of friendly rivalry might just be the ticket for motivation.
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Casting off from our beaches?
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Our beaches are great for surfcasting and longline fishing such as kontiki, kite, and drone fishing.
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However, these longlines and their multiple hooks can be hazardous to other beach users, so we have some rules in place to ensure everyone is kept safe during summer. These include:
- using a flag(s) to make your line visible
- ensuring your line is monitored at all times
- avoiding our ecologically sensitive sites
Longline fishing zones apply from 10am-5pm until 15 February.
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 Work updates
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Parks projects press play
Ōtaki Beach's basketball court is set to get a new lease of life.
Work started today to clean the concrete and repair cracks and uneven parts of the court. The work is expected to take one week to complete and will make the area more usable for all of our community.
There's plenty of other work underway at our parks, including:
- Tilley Road Reserve carpark in Paekākāriki will be repaired and partially resurfaced from 30 January–2 February
- the adult exercise equipment at the Milne Drive Reserve playground in Paraparaumu will be open from Monday, 30 January. The equipment was installed last week as the final part of the playground's revamp, but has been fenced off to allow the concrete bases to cure
- Shotover Reserve playground in Waikanae will be closed from 31 January to undergo its revamp. The Shotover Reserve playground's new look will be based on what you told us during consultation.
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Secure bike parking coming to Paraparaumu
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The first of two free and secure Locky Dock bike rack and charging station for e-bikes and e-scooters will be installed in Paraparaumu next week.
The 10-bay Locky Dock station will be located in front of the Council Service Centre on Rimu Road.
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Suppliers of the Locky Dock, Big Street Bikers, report that with over one million bikes parked in the last five years across the US and Europe, there's been zero bike thefts from a Locky Dock.
We encourage you to use active transport modes for short journeys so we're pleased to give bike riders confidence and convenience for parking their bike while visiting the Paraparaumu town centre.
The second Locky Dock will be installed during upgrades to the Paraparaumu Transport Hub.
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 Hot tip
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Emergency water storage
During a major earthquake, the ground movement is likely to cause severe damage to our water pipes and it's likely that water isn’t going to come out of the tap.
Setting up official drinking water stations could take days, so you'll need your own supply of emergency water for each person in your household for at least seven days. You may need to store more if you have unwell people or small children in your family. Don't forget your pets! You should bear in mind that the average person uses 1,540 litres during a typical week.
Even if you don't have much space, the more water you can store - the better. Thanks to the team at WREMO and the Tank Guy, 200-litre emergency water storage tanks can be purchased from our Paraparaumu Service Centre for $105 - they're normally $265.
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 Dates to remember
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Summer fun for the whānau
Join us in Mahara Place, Waikanae between 9.30am-12.30pm on Thursday for our Find Your Play – Chalk and Build session. Tamariki get to initiate and direct this activity, which will ignite their creativity, innovation, and socialisation skills.
SPLASH! into our pools every day of the school holidays between 1-4.30pm, where there’s inflatables and games on offer. Our Coastlands Aquatics Centre are also running a Manu Bomb competition between 3-4pm this Friday, with the best manu winning bragging rights and a prize.
Learn about and celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Paraparaumu Library this Saturday between 11am-2pm. This free, family-friendly event, includes arts and crafts, and live music.
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 Council meeting
Thursday 26 January, 9.30am
Council Chambers, Paraparaumu
This week councillors will discuss:
- Fees framework for non-elected members
- Elected members' remuneration, expenses and allowances policy
- Waka Kotahi investment audit report
- Revocation of Speed Limits Bylaw 2015
- Confirmation of Community Board representatives
See our Meetings and agendas page for the full agenda. Watch the livestream, or see the coverage on our YouTube channel within three working days of the meeting.
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 Everything (Kāpiti) is better with friends
Would you like to share the Everything Kāpiti newsletter with friends? Forward it to a friend and they'll be able to sign up too.
Or share the sign-up page directly. We look forward to welcoming them to the whānau.
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 #ShareYourKapiti
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We want to see your Kāpiti snaps!
Do you have beautiful Kāpiti Coast photos? If so, follow us on Instagram and use the hashtag #shareyourkapiti for the chance to feature in Everything Kāpiti. If you don't use social media, you can upload your images to our website, at #ShareYourKapiti. Get sharing!
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