Local authorities are pitting themselves against each other in the management stakes with the help of the New Zealand Post management excellence awards.
These encourage councils to search for innovative solutions in key management areas, and to share these successes with other councils around the country.
Waikato wins
Last year’s overall winner was Environment Waikato which also won the process management category award with its management of Waikato’s one in hundred year flood in July 1998.
Environment Waikato described how the flood was managed using their documented procedures.
As result of their plan, the protection systems performed according to design and there was only limited localised flooding.
Environment Waikato’s Chris Samson said management of the flood event reflected their approach of promoting team work and customer service, and ensuring the right processes and procedures were in place.
“The award is an opportunity to benchmark approaches within your own organisation with other’s. It’s also check to see how you’re doing and any other areas that can be improved.”
Auckland
Auckland Regional Council won the community relations category for its Operation Forest Save Project, designed to save the Waitakere forest by culling possums there.
Many community groups got involved in the 18 month project, with the result that possum numbers dropped without public opposition and the bush is now regenerating.
Selwyn
Selwyn District Council received the technology award for its waste management project at Lake Coleridge.
Wellington
Wellington City won the management of people award for its approach to restructuring libraries. Long considered battle arena of confrontation between union and management, it developed non-confrontational settlement that’s now model the PSA is using in its negotiations.
