| 135 Paekakariki Surf Club The Paekakariki Surf Club pavillion. COMMUNITY The Paekakariki Surf Club was established in 1913 by railways staff following the accidental drowning of one of their number, and was initially known as the Paekakariki Railway Surf Club. It’s the oldest country club in New Zealand, and it was the Railways Department that erected the first premises, replaced by the current premises in 1964 and later upgraded with patrol and first-aid rooms, a watch-tower and storage shed. That building was in a poor state with subpar electrics, plumbing and foundations, and had also been affected by higher tides, coastal erosion and storm surge, leading to its demolition in 2023. The new building is sited more than 85m above the mean high-water mark, and it will owe its existence to a raft of funding contributions of cash and in kind. Kapiti Coast District Council was the first funder with $1m, followed by the Lotteries Grants Board’s $500,000, the NZ Community Trust $200,000, the Pelorus Trust $190,000, the Coastlands Shopping Centre $60,000 and Pub Charity $40,000. Surf Life-Saving NZ contributed the $1.4m that allowed the club to sign the construction contract. The club itself spent around $300,000 to get the project started, and a particularly significant contribution came from Cuttriss Consultants which did the $50,000 resource and building consent work for free. Hamish Wakefield of HWA Architects designed the building, and over the past ten years has partnered the club through each phase of planning. Fund-raising is not over, however, with another $1m needed for the fit-out, for which the club is running a Give-a-Little page, and is about to launch a Legacy Wall project – similar to the buy-a-brick concept – and is looking for in-kind sponsorships. We're proud to be working alongside Homestead and Surf Life Saving. m: 021 247 0978 e: mark.james@kinetic-electric.co.nz www.kinetic-electric.co.nz Great People. Great Relationships. Great Results. Lower Hutt: (04) 939 9245 Kāpiti: (04) 904 5420 www.cuttriss.co.nz Wellington-based land development consultancy Cuttriss Consultants is proud to have played a key part in the new Paekākāriki Surf Club project. Cuttriss director Nick Taylor says the initiative showcases how local expertise can be leveraged to address the pressing challenges of coastal erosion and climate change. The original Paekākāriki Surf Club building, a long-time fixture of the coastal community was deemed at risk due to encroaching coastal erosion and structural issues. When approached by the Club to offer their services, Cuttriss stepped in and agreed to provide upfront planning advice, resource consent assistance and engineering and surveying expertise all at no cost. "The club had to obtain resource consent by a certain date; otherwise, some of the funding it had obtained was at risk. Fortunately, our expertise and great relationships with the Kāpiti Coast District Council teammeant we were able to successfully work with them to meet these critical deadlines.” says Nick who himself is a Paekākāriki local. "For us, it's about giving back. It was a really good opportunity to work with the club, local iwi, Council, and other experts to deliver a great outcome for the community." The positioning of the new building considers the long-term resilience due to coastal processes, as well as the functional needs of club members. The building was positioned into the back face of the dune to allows the building to maintain beach visibility for its vital surf lifesaving work while being protected by the natural dune system. Founded in 1947, Cuttriss has grown from humble beginnings in Upper Hutt to become one of the largest private land development consultancies in the Wellington region. With over 50 staff members and five Directors, the locally owned and operated company has built a reputation for excellence in land surveying, civil engineering, resource management planning, and subdivisions. Nick says the Paekākāriki Surf Club project aligns closely with Cuttriss' focus on climate-resilient property development. Cuttriss is also Carbon Zero certified by Toitū Envirocare, reflecting its dedication to climate-positive practices and producing results that will be sustainable for generations. “The Paekākāriki Surf Club project serves as a model for future climate-adaptive community initiatives. It demonstrates how local expertise, community collaboration, and forward-thinking design can come together to provide vital social infrastructure in the face of environmental challenges. As coastal communities worldwide grapple with similar issues, the success of this project will offer both inspiration and practical lessons for climate-resilient development.” Proud partner for community project
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