Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) runs a CouncilMARK programme designed to improve the public's knowledge of the work councils are doing in their communities and to support individual councils to further improve the service and value they provide to all New Zealanders. The programme incorporates an independent assessment system that assesses how councils are performing and the work they're undertaking to grow the value they deliver. Councils receive an overall performance rating from a team of independent assessors and commentary on their performance.
CouncilMARK evaluated Whakatāne District Council in March 2017. The summary of their findings:
The Council is largely responsive to community needs and is performing competently in most assessment areas. There are major service needs for the district, and the Council has a low appetite for risk. With councillor commitment, a sound financial setting, requisite operating expertise, a continuous improvement ethos and community input, the Council is well placed to further increase its effectiveness.
The full report is available below.
2017 CouncilMARK report - (PDF, 1.9 MB)