Transformation

Our Transformation Programme is the biggest shake up of how we operate since 1989 when the Waitaki District Council was formed.

Why are we changing?

The current system was set up for a very different time. Our community and district has changed and so what they need from us has changed. Like all councils, we’re facing big pressures – high costs, ageing infrastructure, and rising demands. We're struggling to keep things affordable for our ratepayers and there are serious challenges ahead.

Everyone at Council is working hard for our district but, with the way we’re set up, it’s not working as well as it should and it’s sometimes hard to get things done. There are opportunities to do things differently and better. That’s why we need to start doing things differently now.

This is no quick fix

Over the past two years, we've been taking a good hard look at ourselves as a Council, using all the feedback we've collected from our residents, customers and staff over the years. The changes we plan are big and will take time to put in place. You won’t see changes overnight, but we've started with a major one – a complete redesign of the way our organisation is structured, which means changes to roles, teams and departments, and new ways of working for everyone at Council.  

 

Why are we transforming?

We need to change because the environment we operate in is vastly different form the one in which Council was designed for some decades ago. Find more about our big drivers for change here...

Organisation Design

We’re bringing our whole staff team together in new ways so we can deliver genuinely as One Team with a focus on what matters for our community and customers. Find an overview of our new Organisation Design Structure here...

Projects and updates

We'll add updates here as change occurs throughout Waitaki District Council, including information about pilot programmes, improvements to services, and the updates to technology that we have planned...

What does Transformation mean for...?

Ratepayers, residents and customers

Based on your feedback, we’re looking at how to improve satisfaction and give you a better experience when dealing with the council. Council is looking at doing things differently to make sure we deliver value for money and your hard-earned dollars are targeted on what matters most to you, your family, and your business, right across our district.

  • Imagine being able to access council services 24/7 from anywhere - through an app, or online. We’ll keep it simple and help you get used to anything new.
  • You’ll still have local people to talk to when you need to, and we want to sort out 90% of your requests at first contact – that means resolving as much as possible there and then when you contact us. It’s ambitious but we’re aiming high!
  • For the more complicated stuff, like applying for consents, we will ensure you have one point of contact to help you through the process and that we make it as simple as possible.
  • We’ll be able to track requests, make sure the right team is looking after you and share updates from start to finish so you know what’s happening at each stage.
  • We’re also looking at setting up convenient locations to make it easier for you to access council services. We’ll be more visible and act quicker to empower you locally.
  • We’re a big district with many different communities. We want to make sure we’re visible and on top of what’s going on throughout the district so we can deal with things quickly and more efficiently. 
  • We know we need to get better at focusing on what matters most to you. We will be clearer on our priorities so we can make sure we deliver on the most important things for our district and communities.

Council staff

We want Council to be a place our staff can thrive. A council that’s an employer of choice that we all feel proud to be a part of.

  • Organisational Design is only the first step of our transformation. We’re bringing the whole team together so that we break down silos and focus on what matters for our community and customers.
  • This means that we're rolling out different ways of working so that we are joined up. Meaning we are all better supported and we get the best result for our customers, communities and district.
  • Staff will be able to see the “golden thread” of how what they do on a daily basis helps council to deliver for our community.
  • We aim to be a place where our people are really well supported in their development and in doing their jobs. You’ll see a number of investments in our people. From continuous learning, enjoyable workspaces, and modern technology – to flexible working. Get involved now and help shape your future here.

Partners

Our contractors and partners are essential to us in delivering for our communities and district.

  • It’s business as usual for Council partners for now.
  • If things change, we’ll take you through anything you need to know about.
  • It’s our aim to work better with our partners so we can all serve our communities and together we can help Waitaki thrive.
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