Waitaki District Council

Oamaru Ward
The Waitaki District Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also makes decisions about building and planning, local regulations, and infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage. The council is made up of 10 councillors and the mayor. Councillors are elected to represent wards (areas in the district). Six councillors will be elected from the Oamaru ward. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Waitaki District Council election.

Local democracy

Local government is a foundational part of our democracy. But local democracy isn’t just about holding elections every three years – it’s about the day-to-day ways people have their say in the decisions that affect us all.

Local democracy

Local government is a foundational part of our democracy. But local democracy isn’t just about holding elections every three years – it’s about the day-to-day ways people have their say in the decisions that affect us all.

  • Regularly engage with the community about what is happening at the council through social media, print, radio and in person.

    Actively seek out the community's views and raise issues on their behalf.

    Support the council's transformation programme, to ensure it is delivering the best outcomes for the district.

  • Collaborate and familiarise myself with relevant available research and policy recommendations for informed, evidence-based decision making.

  • Ensuring our organisation practices strengths-based service delivery to respond effectively to the growing, complex needs of our community.

    Be inclusive of our community's cultural needs when making decisions at the council table.

  • Keep pushing for finding efficiencies, both through our council transformation process, and Future for Local Government initiatives.

    Work towards removing the silo approach within council departments and between our and other districts councils.

    Promote the instigation of a common sense approach into overlap areas between regional council and district council operations.

  • Encourage the transformation project, ensuring staff are supported in the process and the new practices yield positive benefits for all.

    Ensure effective multi-platform communication in plain speak that is accessible to all ages, abilities and ethnicities within our community.

    Ensure we're getting the best value for our ratepayer dollars and that it's being invested in projects which are beneficial and fit for purpose.

  • Start being more transparent and open with the public, avoid putting council meetings into sessions that are not open to the public.

    Listen to the voice of the public and take that into consideration when it comes to decision making.

  • Commit to a policy of district governance when possible over central planning.

    Encourage engagement with younger constituents through active council outreach.

  • "Start a monthly survey to get residents' feedback on council services." An excellent suggestion.

  • Support the council's transformation project focusing on aligning work effort (across teams) to work outputs (better customer outcomes).

  • Regularly engage with the community about what is happening at the council through social media, print, radio and in person.

    Actively seek out the community's views and raise issues on their behalf.

    Support the council's transformation programme, to ensure it is delivering the best outcomes for the district.

  • Collaborate and familiarise myself with relevant available research and policy recommendations for informed, evidence-based decision making.

  • Ensuring our organisation practices strengths-based service delivery to respond effectively to the growing, complex needs of our community.

    Be inclusive of our community's cultural needs when making decisions at the council table.

  • Keep pushing for finding efficiencies, both through our council transformation process, and Future for Local Government initiatives.

    Work towards removing the silo approach within council departments and between our and other districts councils.

    Promote the instigation of a common sense approach into overlap areas between regional council and district council operations.

  • Encourage the transformation project, ensuring staff are supported in the process and the new practices yield positive benefits for all.

    Ensure effective multi-platform communication in plain speak that is accessible to all ages, abilities and ethnicities within our community.

    Ensure we're getting the best value for our ratepayer dollars and that it's being invested in projects which are beneficial and fit for purpose.

  • Start being more transparent and open with the public, avoid putting council meetings into sessions that are not open to the public.

    Listen to the voice of the public and take that into consideration when it comes to decision making.

  • Commit to a policy of district governance when possible over central planning.

    Encourage engagement with younger constituents through active council outreach.

  • "Start a monthly survey to get residents' feedback on council services." An excellent suggestion.

  • Support the council's transformation project focusing on aligning work effort (across teams) to work outputs (better customer outcomes).