Creative Kāpiti launched at the end of 2018 as a cluster group and within 24 hours had attracted more than 100 members. Today, over 500 Kāpiti based creative members provide peer to peer support, sharing knowledge, ideas, pain points, and celebrating each other’s successes. This has forged new connections, reducing isolation and increasing collaboration and trade within the group.
In 2021, despite the impact of Covid and with little sustainable funding as yet, the group is strengthening its capability and resilience and developing projects to benefit the creative industries sector, visitor attraction and wider economy.
In 2022, our name changed to Creative Manaaki. The decision by group leader Jenna-Lee Philpott was made to a values-based title rather than locality-based.
Our Vision
Kāpiti is recognised as a leading creative industries destination, enabling increased access and participation in creativity and supporting career pathways.
Strategic Goals
Workforce Goals
To be a leading creative industries region where young people and emerging creative practitioners have increased ease of access to career development opportunities.
Independent economic development practitioner and musician, Jenna-Lea Philpott founded Creative Kāpiti based on the principles of cluster development. In partnership with employers, she researched and produced NZ’s first economic development strategy for the creative industries, and also the first ten-year skills plan for the UK craft industries, launched at the House of Lords.
Projects
Join the largest community of Kāpiti creatives
Haere mai and welcome to Creative Kāpiti – Advancing Skills & Participation across the Creative Industries on the New Zealand’s Kāpiti Coast.