our guiding documents
Raglan Naturally
Raglan Naturally is a community-led plan that brings together local aspirations, values, and visions for the future of Whāingaroa.
Developed in partnership with the Waikato District Council and the Department of Internal Affairs, it provides a shared roadmap to guide sustainable growth, strengthen partnerships, and celebrate what makes our community unique.
The Raglan Naturally journey began between 1999 and 2001, when locals created the first community plan to identify priorities, shape projects, and build collaboration between residents, the Raglan Community Board, and council. A review in 2008 reaffirmed its importance and expanded the list of community-led initiatives.
After three years of revitalisation and consultation, the Raglan Naturally Community Plan 2020 was launched providing a renewed vision created by the community, for the community.
Since then, Raglan Naturally has supported projects such as the water tower mural, Raglan Refill, and the Lorenzen Bay Reserve restoration. It has also hosted events that build connection and learning, including Te Tiriti workshops, the Toitū Indigenous Film Festival, Waitangi Day celebrations, and community gatherings like Neighbours Day, Youth Week, and suicide awareness events.
In 2020, Raglan Naturally was selected to join the Department of Internal Affairs’ Community-Led Development Programme, one of just 19 communities nationwide, and the first in the Waikato. This partnership provides access to funds for future community projects through Raglan Naturally.
Today, Raglan Naturally continues to focus on hapū-led aspirations, supporting community projects, and sustaining Raglan Naturally as an organisation.
Raglan Tourism and Event Destination Plan
Keeping the Raglan Vibe Alive. A five-year community-led plan led by the Whāingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation (WRDMO) to shape the future of tourism and events.
The Raglan Tourism and Event Destination Plan brings together the people, places, and experiences that make Raglan truly special. Destination management or Tikanga whakahaere wheako is not just about attracting visitors, it’s about genuinely caring for our place and people while creating memorable experiences that reflect the spirit of manaakitanga (hospitality).
With a simple mission to connect visitors with our community and ensure that every experience showcases the essence of Whāingaroa, the plan aims to share our landscapes, stories, culture, and history to visitors from Aotearoa and beyond. By working together with residents, iwi, and local businesses, we’re building a future where tourism supports our economy, protects our environment, and celebrates who we are.
Through thoughtful planning and collaboration, WRDMO’s goal is to grow the visitor economy in ways that benefit everyone. Focussing on extending stays, encouraging travel during quieter seasons, and supporting new opportunities for local employment and enterprise. Collaborating with iwi to provide tourism opportunities and experiences that reflect te ao Māori (the Māori world) and ensuring the authentic stories of this place are shared by those who hold them.
The vision – Whāingaroa Raglan will be recognised as the eco-friendly heart of Aotearoa. A leading example of responsible, cultural, and sustainable tourism. By connecting communities, nurturing creativity, and honouring kaitiakitanga (guardianship), we’re keeping the Raglan vibe alive for generations to come.
Shaping Whāingaroa Raglan as a destination that welcomes visitors while protecting the magic that makes our place unique.
Whāingaroa Harbour Strategy
Developed by Waikato District Council, working closely with mana whenua partners, stakeholders and the wider community, to improve harbour health and infrastructure, the strategy has a 30-50 year time horizon that looks to enhance the harbour.
Te Tirohanga Whānui | Vision – To better-connect Raglan and the surrounding communities by enhancing harbour access with people-orientated facilities such as jetties, walkways and cycleways. To provide access and information that supports care of the natural environment as our communities recreate, gather food, work and carry out environmental initiatives with a focus on mauri and climate change.
It is an aspirational yet practical plan which will outline how the harbour will look and function in the future and will provide guidance on which projects may be needed to make it a reality.
Raglan Character Isthmus Study
From Karioi to the harbour, Raglan’s natural setting and laid-back vibe give our town its unique character. A new study shows why these special qualities matter and why they’re worth protecting.
In collaboration with iwi, hapū and local residents, the study identified the features which contribute to the special character of Raglan and its surrounds.
There are all sorts of things that make this place what it is. The mountain, the seas, the whole environment, the energy of this place. – Raglan Naturally (2020)
From the strong visual and physical relationship between the township and the harbour, the coast and Mt Karioi to the its relaxed nature, the study seeks to protect the ‘look and feel’ of Whāingaroa Raglan through the Waikato District Plan.