Satisfaction with Council Services remains high

South Taranaki residents are generally happy with the services their council provides according to an independent survey.

The survey of 423 residents across all four South Taranaki wards found that overall satisfaction with the Council was at 89%, with 91% satisfaction with the Council’s core services. 92% of those surveyed felt the Council was moving in the right direction and 78% of residents were also satisfied with the way rates are spent on services and facilities provided by the Council.

The survey, which has been conducted regularly since 1993, allows the South Taranaki District Council to assess its performance by finding out from residents what they think the Council is doing well and areas where they could do better. Services and facilities that residents were most satisfied with were the District’s sewerage system (97%), libraries (96%), the tidiness and maintenance of cemeteries (97%), parks and reserves (92%), playgrounds (95%) and recreation centres (91%). The services that had the lowest satisfaction rates were the condition of roads (58% satisfaction) and animal management (73% satisfaction). Satisfaction with the kerbside rubbish and recycling service also dropped from 95% last year to 89%.

Council Chief Executive, Fiona Aitken, says she is pleased with the results of the survey; however, the Council is always looking to improve the services it provides.

“We don’t always get it right, but I know how hard our staff work for the people of South Taranaki and we are continually looking at ways we can lift the bar in terms of performance,” she says. “But it is good to know that most people think we are moving in the right direction and understand we are trying to provide the best for our communities with the resources we have.”

The District-wide survey was conducted using a random selection method by independent research company Key Research over February and March 2023.

The survey results can be found on the Council’s website

under Plans, Strategies and Reports.