More than 100 Kapiti youth are creating a future Kapiti using Lego, to show what our community could look like if we meet the challenges of climate change.

Low Carbon Kāpiti is running workshops through February and March with aspiring Lego planners, surveyors, engineers and builders to create a ‘Kapiti of the future’, which will be on display at Coastlands over Easter.

Cuttriss, Wellington-wide planners, surveyors and engineers, is one of the principal sponsors of the project. Monique Leith, a Senior Planner, says they’re backing the event because their entire team works to positively influence the environment by design, and consider the effects of climate change in their everyday work.

“Climate change challenges us to design environments that can stand up to natural hazards, as well as encourage low carbon practices. Creating a Lego display is a fantastic way of engaging our local children and getting them to think about what the future environment might look like and how we could plan for it,” says Monique Leith.

Jake Roos, Low Carbon Kāpiti Chair, says they want to inspire young people to tackle climate change head-on.

“We want them to know a low (and zero) carbon future is 100 percent possible and plant the seed we can build it for real. We think Lego is a great medium to work in and will help highlight this important message.”

Anticipating a future environment, while managing their environmental footprint, is something the team at Cuttriss lives and breathes each day.

“We believe in evolution through innovation and put this into practice in all of our work. Our civil engineers design green infrastructure and come up with stormwater solutions for new developments, our land surveyors have moved from land to air surveying via drones, and our planners operate in an increasingly paperless system,” says Monique Leith.

“It’s clear to see in Kapiti the effects of climate after severe weather - already this year events like the Gita storm have hammered our coastline. It’s more important than ever to consider the impact natural hazards have on our infrastructure - our roads, water, and homes.

Cuttriss is excited about bringing together our next generation, to see how they think Kapiti could look in the future.

“We love seeing the children bring in their models to the workshop, and how they work together to fit their models in with their neighbours, without overloading the landscape. They quickly understand that building a vibrant, forward-thinking, resilient community, takes organisation and co-operation with your fellow residents. We can’t wait to see the display and what a future Kapiti looks like, through the eyes of our future planners, surveyors and engineers,” says Monique Leith.

The final display will be at Coastlands from 30 March 2018 for three weeks. You can find out more about the project and Low Carbon Kāpiti’s work here http://lowcarbonkapiti.org.nz.

ABOUT CUTTRISS
Celebrating 70 years in the industry, Cuttriss Consultants are leading experts in land surveying, civil engineering and resource management planning in New Zealand. They work with a range of people including business owners, developers, local Councils, central government agencies and local Iwi.

Cuttriss is a socially and environmentally conscious community stakeholder, creating thoughtful spaces for people to work, and live, in. They have been at the forefront of significant projects including the Aotea and Waikanae North housing subdivisions, as well as the relocation of Saint Patricks/Our Lady of Kapiti School to Presentation Way in Milne Drive, Paraparaumu.

Recognising the Wellington region has unprecedented opportunities for growth with the Kapiti Expressway and Transmission Gully infrastructure underway, Cuttriss is working to build mutually beneficial relationships with our local communities. For more information visit www.cuttriss.co.nz.

ENDS

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