Construction on the Ōtaki to North of Levin (Ō2NL) highway started in September and, when it opens in 2029, it will have a transformative impact on the Horowhenua district.
The new 24-kilometre stretch of road will bypass the main street of Levin, so the Horowhenua District Council (HDC) is preparing for this significant change and what this will mean for the area and local communities.
The Levin Town Centre Transformation programme is bringing fresh-thinking to how Levin can take advantage of this once-in-a-generation opportunity, aiming to create an attractive and vibrant urban town centre that supports economic growth, that serves its community into the future and entices visitors from the north and south to visit and spend.
Engaging the community in the vision for Levin’s future is critical to the programme’s success, so Council asked Frank Engagement to bring its experience with transformational projects and strategic lens to the programme’s communication and engagement planning.
Many workstreams of the programme have been in development behind the scenes for some time, but Council needed a campaign to bring all that mahi out in the open and make it relevant for residents of Horowhenua. Frank Engagement reviewed current messaging and channels, worked with the project team on their objectives, and presented a strategy for how Council could bring the community on the journey.
Council has since refreshed the Levin Town Centre Transformation webpage and project channels, and is building up to an engagement campaign in 2026.
Telling the story through the voices of the future is key to sharing the extraordinary opportunities this programme aims to take advantage of.
We’d like to give a shout out to passionate local advocate, Horowhenua District Council’s Strategic Communications Manager, Lisa Campbell, and her team who Frank Engagement has had the pleasure of partnering with.
Keep an eye on Levin and Horowhenua in the coming years as this district’s transformation is sure to be extraordinary.
Council has developed this video, with the help of two talented young Levin locals – it is too cute (and informative!) not to share and has had a very positive response online.
