As Wānaka Grows, Keeping What Matters Most

More Than Population Growth

By Kate Murray, General Manager

Twenty-five years ago, Wānaka was home to fewer than 5,000 people, yet today more than 18,000 people call the Upper Clutha home and thousands more are expected to arrive in the years ahead.

If growth continues at anything like the pace we have experienced over the past two decades, Wānaka could be a similar size to Queenstown today within the next ten years.

That raises an important question.

As we grow, how do we keep the things that matter most about living here?

When people talk about growth, the conversation often focuses on roads, water infrastructure, schools and housing.

Those things matter, but I wonder if the bigger question is whether we can grow while holding on to the sense of connection and belonging that makes this place special.

Many locals look at Queenstown and see congestion, affordability pressures, stretched services, rapid development and the loss of some small-town character.

Whether that perception is fair or not is beside the point.

What it reflects is a desire to hold on to the things people value most about living in the Upper Clutha.

When Wānaka was a town of around 5,000 people, there was a good chance you knew many of the people you bumped into at the supermarket, walking around town or supporting local sport on a Saturday.

We still have that sense of connection today, but maintaining it becomes more important as our community grows.

Recently, at our first Welcoming Day, I met people who had moved from elsewhere in New Zealand and around the world to make the Upper Clutha their home.

Many had found a house and a job but were still looking for connection.

It reminded me that while people may arrive because of the mountains, lakes and lifestyle, they stay because of the community.

We know how to build houses.

Do we know how to build belonging?

The Foundations Are Already Here

The good news is that the Upper Clutha already has many of the ingredients needed to remain a connected and caring community.

We see it in organisations like Food For Love, where volunteers provide meals to people going through difficult times, and in Wheels to Dunstan, which helps residents access vital medical appointments they might otherwise struggle to reach.

We see it in the volunteers behind Meals on Wheels, Pet Therapy and the Justice of the Peace service, who quietly give their time each week to support others.

We see it in campaigns like Cold Kids, where local businesses, community groups and residents come together to ensure local tamariki and whānau can stay warm through winter, and in the Foodbank, where community generosity continues to help families navigate increasing financial pressures.

We see it in organisations like Kahu Youth, which creates opportunities for young people to connect, grow and thrive, and in the Lake Hāwea Community Association, whose volunteers work tirelessly to strengthen local connections and advocate for their community.

While these initiatives are all very different, but they share a common purpose.

They help people feel supported, connected and part of something bigger than themselves.

That matters because communities do not lose their character because they grow.

They lose it when people stop investing in one another.

Measuring Belonging

A simple comment made during discussions about Hāwea's growth has stayed with me.

Community Association Chair Cherilyn Walthew said, "The most important thing about Lake Hāwea is that it needs to function as a community."

While those words were spoken in the context of Hāwea, I believe they capture the challenge facing the entire Upper Clutha as we continue to grow.

We spend a lot of time measuring population growth, housing supply and infrastructure capacity.

But perhaps a question worth asking is how we measure belonging.

Because success will not simply be about how many people live here, but whether people still feel connected to the place and to each other.

Practical takeaways – how can I help?

Welcome someone new to your neighbourhood, workplace, club or community group.

Support local organisations, events and activities that help people connect.

Consider volunteering, sharing your skills or lending a hand when opportunities arise.

Most importantly, remember that while growth will shape our future, the sense of belonging that makes the Upper Clutha special is something we can all help create.

Because the mountains and lakes may bring people here, but it is the community that makes them stay.