Transparency, trust and leadership may be the biggest challenges facing South Wairarapa’s new mayor and councillors, if the latest resident survey is a guide.
In the “Summary Annual Report” of South Wairarapa District Council, now former Mayor Martin Connelly and CEO Janice Smith write that feedback from the annual survey of residents saw the council come up smelling of roses. It states (in full):
“Your feedback told us in the 2025 Residents’ Survey:
Libraries achieved the highest satisfaction rating at 87%, with increased approval of open hours and services. (It was 77% in 2023-24 – Ed).
Parks and reserves were also widely appreciated with 85% satisfaction.
Sports fields and playgrounds rated highly at 83% and 80% respectively.
Street cleanliness and waste collection saw the highest satisfaction levels since monitoring began but feedback from Featherston suggests room for improvement.”
So, an “Oops” from Featherston locals!
In fact, there were many more Oops responses across the subjects covered by the survey, but the Summary is silent on them. For more of the detail, see below then visit: https://swdc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024-25-Annual Report_final_published_version.pdf
In no particular order:
Governance:
Transparency and Trust of council rated 22% down from 24% in 2024. “This indicates an ongoing need to improve how decisions are communicated and how information is shared with the public,” the full report notes.
“This indicates an ongoing need to improve how decisions are communicated and how information is shared with the public.”
Leadership and performance saw just 28% approval double the 2024 year’s 14% “insights (which) reflect both the challenges and the progress made in building trust and improving governance practices.”
Participation: 35% felt they had adequate opportunities to have a say in Council activities.
Accessibility: 45% said it was easy to contact elected members; 60% felt their engagement with Council was satisfactory.
Customer service and communication:
Engagement with council won 60% approval from people who interacted with the council, 80% found the process convenient.
Communications were preferred via email or social media, with the warning from one: “Don’t assume everyone is on Facebook.” And: “We want clear details on where the money is actually going.”
Information clarity saw residents ask for clearer, more concise updates, especially around rates
and infrastructure spending: “Just the facts would be nice.”
Advocacy and leadership:
Questioned on whether the community are satisfied by the advocacy and leadership provided by elected members, 2025 saw 22% were satisfied, up from 18% in 2024 but 58% below the target 80% figure.
Accessibility:
Are the district’s residents satisfied with their access to the Mayor and councillors?
The 2025 survey shows a slight improvement, 32% (one in three) were satisfied, up from 28% from the 2024 result but massively below the Council target of 80% satisfaction. The origins of this “stretch” target were not explained.
Mana Whenua:
Māori responses show only 27% are satisfied with their relations with council, down from 35% in 2024 – and 53% below the 80% target – despite a newly-designated Māori Ward seat at the council table.
On whether Māori culture and te reo are “appropriately recognised” and visible in the district, 43% agreed, compared with 46% in 2024, and against the 80% target.
