Mayor Holborow's report

BY JANET HOLBOROW

I recently had a catch-up to update from the Mirek Smíšek Arts Trust on progress of The Kilns project just south of Ōtaki.

These kilns were moved and restored as part of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway project and the Trust was formed in 2019 to oversee the project and develop the area into an arts precinct and destination. The Trust’s plan is based on four pillars: preservation & restoration, education, inspiration and sustainability.

The Kilns will be a place of national significance for ceramic arts, a cultural experience, a place for community to gather for exhibitions and events, and an education facility, with a resident potter providing workshops.

The project already enjoys strong communty support from KCDC, members of parliament, Waka Kotahi and partners, Creative New Zealand, the Blumhardt Foundation, Nikau Foundation, the Czech government and public support through fundraising and membership.

Visitors to the area will be able to enjoy the restored kilns and learn about their history, and also experience the restored native bush developed and nurtured by Mirek Smíšek.

The resident potter will live on-site in the restored railway station, and visitors will be able to watch them working in the restored red cottage, which will also host a small museum and shop. There will also be storyboards telling the history and story of the land, the unique kilns, Smíšek and the other building on-site.

Iwi have been involved already, and there is a pou planned for the site. Māoriland is supporting with film production.

The precinct also has promise as a cycling destination, being located directly on the cycleway.

The benefits of this project are significant.

It will be a unique destination with a fascinating history. The kilns themselves are incredible, and well worth visiting in their own right, but the other elements of the project have great potential for education and discovery. The Trust is aiming for an opening of the first stage in November.

As a Council, we are looking into how we can support this project as much as we can, as it aligns with our destination work and our work to promote and encourage our creative community. It will be a valuable community asset, and will be another 'feather in our cap' as an arts destination –building on the Art Trail, Mahara Gallery, Māoriland hub, Te Raukura performing arts centre, our numerous museums (including the Ōtaki Museum) and our many local galleries and artists. Ōtaki is already firmly on the map as an arts and culture destination, and this project will be another important pillar.

Also, pop along and check out the latest exhibition at the Ōtaki Museum Te Wāhi Ara Tereina | The Railway , which opened 20 April.

Finally, congratulations to the organisers of the recent Ōtaki Market – Kids’ Market. The market has a focus on building

Out and about with Shell

SHELLY WARWICK – ŌTAKI WARD COUNCILLOR

Recently I had the pleasure of having a tour around The Kilns project in Te Horo. Kindly organised by John Draper of The Kilns Trust, Ōtaki Community Board members and KCDC staff were escorted onto the work site by NZTA and contractor representatives. Thanks to the hard work of The Kilns trustees – a group of volunteers who thankfully have helped save this piece of history – this will become an amazing tourist attraction in our area and easily accessed by locals. Included in this project is the renovation of the relocated Te Horo train station, which will become an artist’s residence in the future, which hopes to attract artists from far and wide to spend time here and share their talent and expertise. The original kilns will not be in use, but a new kiln is being built and will be functioning on site. The Kilns will eventually be accessible from the PP2Ō Cycleway, Walkway, Bridleway (CWB) track and by car from Winiata Link Road, which is not yet formed. You can find out more about The Kilns Trust, how you can support them, and their exciting plans at https://www. thekilnsattehoro.co.nz/

Now that the PP2Ō has opened, the next stage for Waka Kotahi NZTA to go through is the preparation of old State Highway 1 for revocation; revocation is the process of a state-owned highway being redesignated to a local road and handed back to a local authority, in this case Kapiti Coast District Council (KCDC). Part of the revocation process is called the PP2Ō Corridor Improvements. Preliminary consultation for this was done as far back as 2019, and preliminary design done around May 2021. A summary of this work can be found on https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/projects/ mackays-to-peka-peka-revocation/PP2Ōand-M2PP-revocation-engagementsummary.pdf . The section of road included in this work is between Makahuri–Marycrest and Taylors Road. There are three categories of work for the PP2Ō Corridor Improvements and each are funded differently. Category 1 is curb-to-curb and is 100% funded by Waka Kotahi, this will also include some confidence, being aware of the environment and creating and selling sustainable and healthy products. Some talented young musicians performed, and some used it as an opportunity to fundraise for sports and other activities. It was great to see so much creativity and entrepreneurship on display. They will be held in each school holidays, so encourage any young people who are interested to get creating! footpaths within the Railway shopping precinct. Category 2 is 51% NZTA funded and 49% KCDC (rates) funded and so needs to be part of an annual or long-term plan to trigger funding; and category 3 is 100% KCDC funded. So only the category 1 work will not come out of ratepayer funds. This work will happen over about two years, and at the same time the Ōtaki Community Board and KCDC’s strategy team will be consulting with the community on 'visioning' work for our little town: what do we see as important for our future to 2060? We may be able to tie in some of this visioning to the category 2 funding and get some financial help from Waka Kotahi to achieve some of our goals.

Keep your eyes on local newspapers, the KCDC website and Facebook posts for the upcoming community engagegment and planning around the old SH1 corridor improvements as well as the community engagement on the Future Vision for Ōtaki. You can sign up to KCDC’s e-newsletter on https://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/whats-on/