Council responds to challenges, announces transformation plans

Ensuring Waipā District Council is fit for the future and has high performing teams with community at the heart of all they do are the key drivers behind a transformation programme announced by Chief Executive Steph O’Sullivan yesterday.

‘Future Us’ includes an updated five-group structure, consolidating key functions and placing an enhanced focus on effective co-ordinated delivery across all the council’s functions and activities. Each group will be led by a director. The new structure will come into effect on July 1.

O’Sullivan said across many sectors, leaders were dealing with significant change and uncertainty.

“International and national volatility, wide-ranging reforms, a changing workforce, digital transformation, financial pressure, and growing inequity in our communities are just some of those things.

“We are not immune to that. Future Us is about responding to those challenges and meeting the future with confidence.”

O’Sullivan said the changes also reflect what is happening locally.

“Waipā has changed significantly over the past 15 years, and so has the environment we’re operating in. We’re seeing sustained growth, increasing expectations from our communities, and tighter financial constraints.

“We have to be a smart, responsive organisation that’s fiscally prudent to meet these challenges. In simple terms, what got us here won’t get us to where we need to go.

The transition of water and wastewater services to Waikato Waters on July 1 would also be a major shift in the work council will do in future.

“This is a natural point to reset. The Mayor and Elected Members have set clear priorities, and it’s my role to make sure we are set up to deliver on them.”

O’Sullivan said the programme was grounded in extensive engagement and due diligence, including more than 55 external stakeholder meetings, over 50 interviews with staff and elected members, and drawing on best practice across local government in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.

“We’ve taken the time to listen, test our thinking, and understand what best practice looks like. That gives us a strong foundation for the changes we are making.

“It’s about ensuring our teams are high-performing, future focussed and our community sits at the heart of all we do,” she said.

“Waipā is the Home of Champions and we proudly attest to that brand. It is incumbent on us to live up to it ourselves.”