Ruapehu District Council community fund recognised for local government excellence
A community funding initiative has earned the Ruapehu District Council a highly commended citation for local government excellence.
The council's Empowering Communities, Enhancing Lives Fund was recognised at the 2025 LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards.
The awards celebrate programmes that demonstrate professional excellence and innovation in local government management.
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NZ Herald
30-06-2025
- NZ Herald
Ruapehu District Council community fund recognised for local government excellence
The recently opened obstacle course in the Taumarunui Domain, initiated by the Taumarunui Youth and Community Trust, was one of the 15 projects made possible by the Empowering Communities, Enhancing Lives Fund. A community funding initiative has earned the Ruapehu District Council a highly commended citation for local government excellence. The council's Empowering Communities, Enhancing Lives Fund was recognised at the 2025 LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards. The awards celebrate programmes that demonstrate professional excellence and innovation in local government management.
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Scoop
Wellington City Council And Predator Free Wellington Win Supreme Award At Local Government Excellence Awards
Wellington City Council and Predator Free Wellington have won the Supreme Award at the LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards held at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre this evening. The LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards celebrates programmes, projects, and approaches that demonstrate professional excellence in local government management, and are open to any council, or council-controlled organisation (CCO) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Three Wellington City Council projects were nominated in different categories, with Predator Free Wellington taking the top award for Excellence in Environmental Leadership, then going on to win the overall Supreme Award out of all the category winners. 'What a night for Wellington! This is a well-deserved national recognition that highlights the groundbreaking conservation work happening in our city, underscores Wellington's commitment to kaitiakitanga or environmental stewardship, and the role our community plays in achieving these ambitious goals,' says Mayor Tory Whanau. Predator Free Wellington - Excellence in Environmental Leadership (Winner/Supreme Winner) Wellington City Council is a proud partner of the Predator Free Wellington project (PFW), which is working hard to eliminate rats, stoats and weasels from Pōneke – and has already been successful on the Miramar Peninsula. 'This award recognises the dedication of the PFW team and also reflects the power of collaboration between local government, volunteers, and engaged communities. PFW's work is making a huge difference to our local biodiversity, and we are proud of their achievements and eager to continue supporting their bold vision for a predator-free capital,' says Mayor Whanau. Predator Free Wellington Project Director, Kaiwhakahaere Matua, James Willcocks says the award is great recognition of years of collaboration and the amazing mahi of all its volunteers. "This award reflects the strong partnership between Wellington City Council and Predator Free Wellington, built on our shared commitment and investment in creating a predator free Wellington. 'Together, we've created a blueprint for transforming urban environments worldwide, demonstrating that cities can be places where both people and biodiversity can thrive." The other two nominations for Wellington City Council were: Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park - Excellence in Community Engagement (Nomination) Mākara Peak exemplifies excellence in community engagement through conservation efforts, volunteer contributions, and a successful partnership. This transformation highlights the power of collaboration and dedication to environmental stewardship. Nestled in Wellington's western hills, Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park (MP) has transformed from gorse-covered terrain to an award-winning recreation area. Mākara Peak Supporters (MPS) and Wellington City Council (WCC) have driven this change, fuelled by thousands of volunteers. Volunteers have built trails, planted over 60,000 native trees, controlled pest plants, and maintained nearly 700 traps. Their efforts have rejuvenated native bush, providing habitat for kiwi, kākāriki, tītipounamu, kārearea, and kākā. TrackDem - Excellence in Digital Local Government (Nomination) Wellington City Council is taking a world-leading approach to transparency by making it easier for everyone to access and understand Council decisions by using technology to locate and track voting records and meeting data. The Mātai Manapori TrackDem system, delivered via enhanced website functionality, shows clearly how the Council and its committees have come to their final decisions, laying out initial recommendations, any changes or amendments to those recommendations, and how each individual Elected Member voted.
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Council Teams Up With Palmerston North And Rangitikei To Deliver Water Services
Horowhenua District Council will join Palmerston North City Council and Rangitikei District Council to deliver water services and recognises Whanganui District Council and Ruapehu District Council as potential willing partners. Today's decision is projected to save the average Horowhenua household between $195 and $300 per year by 2027/28. The Government's Local Water Done Well policy requires all councils to decide how they will continue to deliver safe, reliable water services sustainably into the future, either alone or in partnership with other councils. Taking into account feedback from public consultation, elected members unanimously voted today to form a Joint Water Services Organisation with the two other councils, and leave the door open for Whanganui and Ruapehu to join if their respective councils vote in favour of this option. The Water Services Organisation will manage resources across councils, enabling lower operating costs and improved efficiency which will generate the estimated annual savings. It will also be able to borrow up to five times the amount it generates from water services charges through the Local Government Funding Agency, which is almost twice as much as Council can currently borrow. This means that the cost of increased investment in water infrastructure can be spread across the lifetime of the assets. 'Scale does matter and I am confident we have made the right decision. It's important we take a long-term view of water services delivery and while I acknowledge while this is a crucial milestone, it is only the start of a challenging journey ahead,' says Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden. 'I know some councils including Kāpiti and Manawatū have decided to go it alone rather than join forces with their neighbours. 'But our analysis – which was rigorous –convinced us that we can provide more sustainable water services by teaming up with other councils. 'And in the long term it will be cheaper for ratepayers too.' The next step is for the councils to work together to produce a Water Services Delivery Plan, which must be submitted to the Government by 3 September 2025. 'I'd like to acknowledge our hard-working Local Waters team, which just celebrated its first six months operating and maintaining our water assets and services,' says Chief Executive Monique Davidson. 'They are doing an excellent job for the community and will continue to do so as we work through the many decisions, we need to make about how the new water services organisation will work. In other words, for now it is business as usual.' Ruapehu District Council and Whanganui District Council will decide on their preferred Water Services Delivery Model at their respective Council Meetings on 25 and 26 June. Modelling suggests that if all five councils formed a Water Services Organisation, savings of over $300m could be achieved over 30 years.
