NEWS RELEASE FROM NORTH SHORE CITY

Council emails city news May 23, 2006

Direct access to the latest information about life in North Shore City - including events, activities and neighbourhood projects - is the focus of 'shorelife', North Shore City Council's new monthly email newsletter,
launched this month.

Designed to suit busy residents, the opt-in electronic option is easy on the eye, useful and free.

shorelife contains links to council and other relevant websites for more detailed information about the subjects it features.

"A survey of residents showed that people wanted to receive council news by email, particularly about city events, so we've developed North Shore's first email newsletter with citywide news," says communications manager, Paul Thompson.

"shorelife fills a growing demand with so many of our community being heavy users of email. We're excited about developing this channel because there are so many possibilities for where we can take this."

To subscribe to the free newsletter, people can visit the council's website, www.northshorecity.govt.nz , select online services and complete the subscription process. shorelife is emailed at the start of each month.

Delivering city news directly to people's inbox is an initiative North Shore City is keen to progress further with time.

"As more people sign up for shorelife, the more we'll be able to look at ways of cutting back on the use of paper and producing electronic communications that are faster, cheaper and better for the planet than printed materials," says Mr Thompson.

"Sign up now and watch this space," he says.

Information systems manager, Jeff Shaw, says shorelife is yet another way the council is keeping its promise of 'information within reach' by delivering more services to the community online.

"Our customers enjoy more choice than ever before," he says. "They don't have to drive to visit our offices during working hours to do business with us or research information."

This month North Shore City also launched Land Information Memorandums (LIMs) applications online. Homeowners and prospective property buyers no longer need to visit a council office to order a LIM, they can apply and pay for a LIM by credit card through the council's website 24/7.

Other online services include: paying parking, litter and animal infringement fines and dog registration renewals; ordering property information; completing a search of the city's cemeteries; and finding out the safety grading of food premises.

North Shore City Council's website is getting hit on more each month.

"We live in the electronic age and our customers expect us to deliver a faster and more convenient service, just like they demand from their bank, so we're offering more services online," says Mr Shaw.

Free internet access is available at all seven of the council's libraries.

To use the council's online services, please visit www.northshorecity.govt.nz , check out the top right-hand menu and select 'online services'.

ENDS

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