Waikanae Business Association

08/10/2026

If you wander into Mahara place these days, you can't miss the large build site of Te Ara Whetū, the future library and community hub taking shape right in fron of our eyes.

After years of planning and community feedback, the old Waikanae Library building is officially being transformed. Right now, the team is carrying out enabling works: removing asbestos, excavating for new foundations, and completing the investigations needed before the main rebuild begins. It’s the early, behind-the-scenes stage; not glamorous, but absolutely essential, and it marks a huge step forward for the heart of Waikanae.

The name Te Ara Whetū, gifted by Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, means “the passage of stars,” acknowledging the deep cultural history of this area and connecting the new space to its place and people.

There’s still plenty to come, but for now, the excitement is simply in seeing movement; real progress toward reopening a much-loved community space that’s been missed for years.

01/10/2026

Congratulations to all!

The 2026 Electra Business & Innovation Awards! 🌟💜

After a very exciting awards season, impeccable businesses joining the journey, and a night full of celebration, we are excited to present this year's winners!

Congratulations to all entrants, finalists, and winners. 📣

Electra Business of the Year: Sponsored by Electra
🌟 Udderly Organic Ltd

Construction and Trades: Sponsored by Mills Albert Ltd
🌟 Premium Garage Doors

Consumer Services: Sponsored by Zebunisso Alimova - Mike Pero Mortgages
🌟 Nation Beauty

Hospitality, Entertainment and Tourism: Sponsored by Kapinua
🌟 The Custard Pie

Manufacturing, Production and Processing: Sponsored by MTF Kāpiti
🌟 Udderly Organic Ltd

Not for Profit, Community and Public Services: Sponsored by LT McGuinness
🌟 Otaki Women’s Community Club (OWCC)

Professional and Business Services, or Technology: Sponsored by Graphic Press & Packaging
🌟 Pou Architecture

Retail: Sponsored by New World Levin
🌟We Love Local

Customer Experience - Horowhenua: Sponsored by The Horowhenua Company
🌟 Udderly Organic Ltd

Customer Experience - Kāpiti: Sponsored by Spark Business Hub Kāpiti
🌟 We Love Local

New/Emerging: Sponsored by Kāpiti Business Chamber
🌟 Udderly Organic Ltd

Small Business: Sponsored by NZME
🌟 Pou Architecture

Environmental Sustainability: Sponsored by ANZ Bank of New Zealand
🌟 Udderly Organic Ltd

Innovation: Sponsored by Elite Diagnostics
🌟 Premium Garage Doors

Judges' Award - Heart of the Community
🌟 Four Square Shannon

Hall of Fame Horowhenua: Sponsored by Horowhenua District Council
🌟 Doug Rowan

Hall of Fame Kāpiti: Sponsored by Kāpiti Coast District Council
🌟 Mark Brosnahan

01/10/2026

Today’s wander takes us up into the Hemi Matenga Reserve, one of Waikanae’s favourite close-to-home escapes.

A few minutes from the town centre, this track gives you that perfect mix of fresh air, birdsong, native bush, and those little moments of quiet you can only get on a forest walk. Take the short loop, traverse the summit track or challenge yourself with a 2+ hour loop along the ridge and back - there are options a plenty!

Whether you’re heading up for a workout, taking the kids on a nature adventure, or just wandering for the stunning lookout views over Kapiti Island, Hemi Matenga always delivers; lush, peaceful, and beautifully local.

24/09/2026

If you’ve never been to an eel feeding experience at Ngā Manu, you’re missing one of Waikanae’s most entertaining little surprises.

Every day at 2pm, staff feed the longfin eels in the wetland area, and these eels move fast. They’re big, powerful, and they surge in the moment food hits the water. It’s an easy, up-close look at one of Aotearoa’s most iconic native species.

The session is short, engaging, and a definite hit with kids, but adults get just as into it. Combine it with a wander around the historic native bush, a visit to the kiwis and tuataras, and a picnic at the BBQ, and you’ve got a perfect little local outing...simple, fun, memorable, and right here in Waikanae.

17/09/2026

Take a wander off the main street and visit Te Ara Tangata; the people’s pathway that threads culture, history, and community through the centre of Waikanae. This striking 50-metre pathway connects Whakarongotai Marae with the old village site and Ruakohatu Urupā, bringing stories of place into everyday movement.

Its patterns echo pātikitiki designs, stained-glass windows, purapura whetū, and waka motifs; a beautiful blend of art, identity and memory. It’s one of those spots that feels both grounding and uplifting, and a perfect reminder of how deeply woven our community roots are.

This is a wander worth slowing down for.

15/09/2026

What do YOU want to ask the people standing to represent Kāpiti?
The Kāpiti Business Chamber is collecting business questions ahead of their candidates event on 14 October. Drop your question when you register.
Register / submit a question: https://www.kapitichamber.org.nz/events #!event/2026/10/14/election-meet-the-candidates

10/09/2026

Take a wander with us to one of Waikanae’s most unreal spots, the river mouth, where the Waikanae River meets the ocean.

If you’ve been here, you know the vibe instantly. The coastline stretching forever, the river winding out to sea, the dunes, the mountains in the background…it’s one of those places that makes you stop for a second and remember how ridiculously lucky we are to live here.

03/09/2026

Election season is here 🗳️
Waikanae Business Association is proud to support the Kāpiti Business Chamber's upcoming event bringing together the candidates standing for Kāpiti, with one focus: business.
Come hear what they plan to do for local business, ask your own questions, and meet them face to face.

📅 Wed 14 October, 5–7pm
📍 Ocean Road Community Centre, Paraparaumu Beach
Details & registration: https://www.kapitichamber.org.nz/events #!event/2026/10/14/election-meet-the-candidates

Kāpiti Business Chamber

03/09/2026

Today’s wander takes us inside Toi MAHARA to check out their current must-see exhibition: Further Revelation: Frances Hodgkins and British Modernism 1920–1935.

If you've never visited the gallery, this is a great reason to get yourself along. This show dives into the decade when Frances Hodgkins found her voice as a modern artist, eventually becoming one of Britain’s most celebrated painters.

You’ll see works from across the 1920s, the same period she joined the bold Seven & Five Society, a group that broke away from English tradition and looked toward the fresh ideas emerging from Picasso, Matisse, Braque and others. It’s a vibrant, thoughtful window into early modernism, and a rare chance to see these works together, thanks to generous loans from Te Papa, Victoria University, private collections, and more.

Whether you’re an art lover or just curious, this exhibition is genuinely worth the wander. The exhibition is open until April at Toi MAHARA, Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–4pm.

27/08/2026

Just south of the Waikanae shops, in the incredible Southwards Car Museum, there's a world of pure racing history, the legendary Ferrari 750 Monza.

Sleek, powerful, and famously demanding to drive, this Monza arrived in New Zealand in 1957 and immediately carved its place into motorsport lore, raced by some of the biggest names of the era.

This very car was:

🏁 Driven by Italian racing icon Eugenio Castellotti
🏁 Entered in events like Le Mans, Targa Florio, and the Swedish Grand Prix
🏁 Raced across New Zealand circuits from Ardmore to Dunedin
🏁 Destroyed in a crash, then lovingly rebuilt in a home workshop
🏁 Fitted with new engines, raced again, and eventually retired
🏁 Finally preserved right here at Southwards, where it awaits full restoration

You can visit the Ferrari 750 Monza, along with hundreds of other amazing cars, at Southwards, open daily from 9am. It’s the perfect local adventure for families, history lovers, or anyone who appreciates a good story told in steel and horsepower.