Hawke’s Bay councils launch HB Viewer

Hawke’s Bay is the ‘first in New Zealand’ to launch a new data and mapping service combining information from all five of the region’s councils into one online viewer.

Hawke’s Bay Local Authority Shared Services Ltd (HB LASS) has itself developed HB Viewer, an innovative platform giving easy access to mapping, data and web services, without the need for specialist Geographic Information System (GIS) operator skills.

“As far as we know, we’re the first region in New Zealand with a service like this, using an open source platform to link data from all five councils,” says HB LASS Chairman Craig Waterhouse.

The HB Viewer site includes many Hawke’s Bay-related datasets sourced from Central Hawke's Bay District, Hastings District, Wairoa District, Napier City and Hawke's Bay Regional Council as well as publicly available information from other organisations. The map viewer has the same look and structure as that already on local or regional council websites.

Napier City Chief Executive Wayne Jack is a keen supporter of this technology, saying “HB Viewer really starts to open up information and tools both for us as councils working together and for our community to help with decision-making, planning and interaction.”

HB viewer has been launched with modules for council facilities, reserves, pathways, iwi and Civil Defence. It will be updated regularly as councils add specific modules and data for their own city and district use.

“Previously, we’ve had five independent and separate platforms operating in silo. Now the HB Viewer allows us to integrate all this information onto one regional platform,” adds project partner Ross McLeod, Chief Executive of Hastings District Council.

“I really commend all those staff involved from across the various councils in Hawke’s Bay. Shared Services has allowed us to look at doing things differently and to work collectively for the benefit of all Hawke’s Bay ratepayers,” concludes HB LASS Chairman, Craig Waterhouse.

ENDS

© Scoop Media