Businesses and residents are being invited to take part in a community-wide survey exploring the impact of the World Surf League (WSL) event on Whāingaroa Raglan.
The internationally recognised surfing event brought global attention to Raglan, attracting visitors, media coverage and economic activity. Now, the community has an opportunity to help shape conversations about the future of major events in the town.
The survey is part of a community impact study designed to understand how the WSL affected local businesses, community wellbeing, tourism and the environment.
The aim is not only to celebrate what worked well, but also to identify challenges, opportunities and lessons for the future.
Business owners are encouraged to share their experiences of visitor numbers, sales, staffing and overall impacts during the event. Residents are invited to provide feedback on topics such as community pride, traffic, environmental effects, and how future events could better reflect local values.
The project will also include interviews with surf community representatives, tourism organisations and other local stakeholders to capture stories and insights behind the data.
A final publicly available community impact report will be produced, outlining key findings, recommendations and opportunities for future events.
The survey is being conducted by the Whāingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation in collaboration with Raglan Naturally Community Trust.
