The people of Waitaki are being asked what parts of their home towns need to be highlighted to help form a brand refresh.

From today, members of the Waitaki District Council are on tour from Palmerston to Ōmarama, finding out what stories people think need telling about the place they live.

The sessions are a follow-up to the council-run Community Conversations which took place around the district in October last year and helped inform the Annual Plan and upcoming Long-Term Plan.

Feedback from those conversations, online responses, and engagement with stakeholders and communities helped develop the Waitaki Story and a new brand identity for the district.

Council Economic and Community Development manager Mel Jones says this month’s sessions will be a chance for locals to preview the new district brand and hear about how it was developed.

“We’re keen for you to share your local stories and your ideas about how to bring the Waitaki Story to life in your town,” she says.

The new Waitaki Story branding will significantly contribute to refreshing the township and district entry signage, and ideas from local communities about what their signs could feature will play an important role in replacing the ageing roadside signage across the district.

Palmerston Sports Hall is the first stop tonight at 6.30pm (Monday), with Kurow and Duntroon consultation held at Kurow Hall tomorrow from 4.30pm. Hampden, Moeraki and Herbert residents are invited to Hampden Hall on Thursday at 6.30pm. 

An Ōamaru session will be on Saturday (16 November), 3pm at the Brydone Hotel, the Ōmarama and Ōhau session will be on Sunday (17 November) from 11am at the Ōmarama Community Centre, and then Otematata’s session at the Community Centre will follow that at 3pm. A final session will take place back in Ōamaru on Wednesday, 20 November at the Opera House at 6.30pm.

All are welcome and light refreshments will be provided. A Tourism Waitaki grant has helped fund the project.