As city planners, we often call the District Plan a rulebook. And it is. It’s full of rules that affect what we can do on our land and with our resources in every part of Napier.

But it also tells a story of where we have been and where we are going as a city.  It tells us what Napier will look, feel, sound and be like in the future.

Some people may not have heard of the District Plan or only come across it when making changes to their property. Whether we realise it or not, it affects every single one of us.

The Plan guides what kinds of activities are appropriate in different places, whether we grow up or grow out, where medium- and high-density housing can go, and where industry and business belong. It shapes how we move around, the noise we live with, and how we adapt to the impacts of climate and flooding. It also helps promote compact living, minimise vehicle use, and reduce carbon emissions. The Plan manages where commercial and industrial activities can locate, ensures design quality, and addresses practical matters such as noise from the airport and port. Every one of us experiences the effects of these decisions in our daily lives.

By law, councils must review their District Plans every ten years. Napier’s current plan was written before 2011. Our city has changed enormously since then. Our population has grown, our understanding of climate risks has deepened, and our aspirations for a sustainable, resilient city have evolved. 

That’s why, in 2019, we began the process of reviewing the Plan. In 2021, we released a Draft District Plan which was not required by law, but important for hearing directly from our community before the formal process began. Your feedback helped shape the Proposed District Plan, which was notified in 2023.

Now, in 2025, we have reached the next major milestone: the release of the Decisions Version. Over the past few years, we have brought together hundreds of voices, more than 7,000 submission points, and many hearings. The result is a plan that reflects the values, priorities, and future aspirations of our community.

This version of the District Plan has been shaped by what our community has told us matters most. It sets out where we want to enable more housing and growth, and how we can make that growth sustainable. It also identifies where we want to protect what we value as Napierites; our heritage, our small but precious landscapes and biodiversity, and the character of our neighbourhoods. It encourages vibrancy by supporting business and industry, and by creating places and spaces for everyone. It reflects what we have heard about the need for well-planned growth, resilient stormwater systems after the floods, and the importance of green spaces throughout our city.

Your input has brought us to this point, a rulebook and a vision combined, creating a Napier where everyone can live well. As we complete Council’s role in this process and move into the next phase, where the Environment Court considers any appeals, the decisions made by your elected members will begin to shape our built environment. These decisions influence the spaces where children play, whether our heritage survives, how our city centre thrives, and how prepared we are for climate challenges.

This story has been written by everyone who cared enough to engage, to share, and to shape what we call home. It is our collective future built on shared values, bold ideas, and a deep love for this special place. 

Full information on the District Plan is here. And you can take a look at the District Plan maps here, find an area that is important to you, and see how the feedback from hundreds of submitters has helped shape your neighbourhood.

The future we are creating will be guided by the voices that took part in this process. This is our collective backyard, and we all have a stake in how it’s managed.

Paulina Wilhelm is Napier City Council Strategy and Policy Manager