12 September 2007

Taranaki Home to New Zealand’s Best Council

Congratulations to Taranaki Regional Council – the best council in a ranking of New Zealand's hottest local authorities.

Taranaki took the Federated Farmers’ Top Council award based on the views of more than 1800 people throughout New Zealand.

"Hats off to Taranaki Regional Council and others which ranked nearly as highly. Other councils would be wise to study how the best councils carry out their business to learn why some councils are so much better than the rest," said Charlie Pedersen, president of Federated Farmers of New Zealand.

Mr Pedersen presented the inaugural Top Councils Cup at an event in Stratford today.

The awards aim to give recognition to councils based on the responses to a Rates Report Card, an informal questionnaire filled out mainly at rural field days around New Zealand over the past six months. A high grade means that a council is:
• Open and approachable
• Takes notice of ratepayers’ views
• Acts without bias
• Provides good roads
• Implements the Resource Management Act well.
• Gives good value for ratepayers money
• Gives ratepayers a good understanding of where rates revenue is spent
• Charges affordable rates and spends prudently.

The results were collated into an overall report card grade, with Taranaki receiving the highest grade of A minus.

“Westland District Council also gained an A minus but its overall points rating was slightly behind Taranaki Regional Council. Nevertheless, this is a very good result for the council,” said Mr Pedersen.

In third place was Hauraki District Council (B), followed by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (B) and Hamilton City (B minus).

A total of 64 councils received grades. The full list will be released at 11am, Thursday, 13 September.

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