Community outcomes
Community outcomes state what the council intends to achieve to maintain and improve the wellbeing of the region in the present and in the future. They form the basis for the council’s service delivery, thus determining the levels of service provided to the community.
The Local Government Act 2002 requires councils to have community outcomes. A 2010 amendment to the act removed the obligation for councils to collaborate with other organisations when developing community outcomes. Councils can instead focus on what they can directly influence, without having to identify and seek the agreement of other organisations.
In 2011, the Waikato Regional Council reviewed the set of community outcomes it developed in 2004 in collaboration with 12 councils in the greater Waikato region as part of the Choosing Futures Waikato process. As a result of this review, these outcomes are now described as ‘community aspirations’. They are overarching statements of the community’s priorities for the region across five themes, including environment, economy, quality of life, culture and identity and participation and equity.
Click here to read the full list of community aspirations.
At the same time, Waikato Regional Council has also adopted four new community outcome areas – community partnerships, environmental quality, regional economy, and safe and resilient communities. These are aligned to the community’s aspirations and closely mapped to the council’s core business.
1 Community partnerships
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- Our region is renowned for linking environmental awareness with community action.
- Heritage sites and landscapes of significance to whanau, hapū and iwi are preserved and valued.
- All our people and communities can participate in decision making.
- Iwi, hapū and Māori work together with central government, local government and community organisations in mutually beneficial partnerships.
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2 Environmental quality
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- The iconic landscapes and natural features of our environment define and sustain us. We respect and celebrate them as taonga.
- Our natural environment is protected and respected. Its ecological balance is restored, its air, soil and water quality is improved and its native biodiversity is enhanced.
- We are aware of what we need to do to look after our environment.
- Our coastal and waterway environments are restored and preserved, and access to them is maintained.
- Our region’s waterways have consistently high water quality.
- Waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation and energy efficiency are promoted and are part of how we all live.
- We use land management practices that protect and sustain our soil and land.
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3 Regional economy
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- We take a practical and coordinated approach to planning and providing services which works effectively across boundaries and sectors and respond to our communities’ needs.
- Our economy is built on primary industries and we encourage planning and practices that protect and sustain our productive resources.
- Our region has a reputation for entrepreneurship, innovation, research and education, attracting investment and people to work, study and visit.
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4 Safe and resilient communities
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- Our historic places are retained and cared for.
- We safeguard productive land, people and property.
- We have reliable, efficient and well-planned infrastructure and services.
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