ŌTOROHANGA DISTRICT COUNCIL REFLECTS ON A YEAR OF CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Ōtorohanga District Council's 2025/26 Annual Report highlights a year of significant achievements, major change and unexpected challenges, including the February floods that affected communities across the district.

The report provides an overview of Council's performance, finances and the services delivered to the community during the year ending 30 June 2026.

Mayor Rodney Dow says the year demonstrated both the resilience of the district and the commitment of Council staff, elected members and community partners.

"It's been a challenging year, but there's also a great deal to be proud of. From responding to a major weather event to maintaining essential services and preparing for significant changes in local government, our people have continued to work hard for our communities.

"The February floods had a significant impact on our district, damaging homes, farms, roads and infrastructure. The response from our communities was remarkable, and I want to acknowledge everyone who helped their neighbours, supported those affected and contributed to the recovery effort."

Council performance - recognising achievements and areas for improvement

Of Council's 53 non-financial performance measures, 30 (57%) were achieved, 22 (41%) were not achieved and one (2%) was not applicable.

While the results show there is room for improvement, they also reflect the challenges of delivering services across a large rural district while managing infrastructure pressures, increasing costs and the impacts of severe weather.

Some measures were affected by circumstances outside Council's direct control, while others highlighted areas where service delivery, processes or infrastructure need further attention.

Mayor Dow says it is important to be transparent about both successes and shortcomings.

"These measures are there to help us understand how we're performing and where we need to do better. We haven't met every target, and we won't shy away from that.

"At the same time, these figures don't tell the whole story of what our staff and communities have achieved throughout the year. There has been an enormous amount of work happening across the district, often in difficult circumstances."

Plenty to celebrate

The Annual Report also highlights a number of positive results and achievements, including:

·        Community trust in Council reaching 82.2%, exceeding the 70% target.

·        100% of Māori leaders surveyed rating their relationship with Council as good or better.

·        Library satisfaction reached 94.2%, with more than 42,000 visits to the library, both in person and online, reflecting strong use of its services.

·        Continued maintenance and improvements across the district's roading network, including 93% of footpaths meeting the required standard.

·        Significant emergency response and recovery work following the February floods.

·        Progress towards the transition of drinking water and wastewater services to Waikato Waters Limited in July 2027.

·        Continued collaboration with neighbouring councils, iwi, hapū and community organisations.

Council has also continued to deliver essential services, support community facilities and programmes, and plan for the district's future.

Looking ahead

Affordability, infrastructure resilience and changing government requirements will remain key priorities for Council.

Work is continuing on flood recovery, and Council is also preparing for the transition of water services.

"There's no doubt we have challenges ahead, but we also have strong foundations to build on," Mayor Dow says.

"Our focus is on learning from this year's results, improving where we need to and continuing to deliver the best possible outcomes for our communities.

"I want to thank our staff, elected members, iwi partners, volunteers and everyone across the district who has contributed during what has been a particularly demanding year.

"We have plenty to celebrate, and plenty to keep working on. That's what being accountable to our community is all about."

ENDS