Satisfaction with Council services high in South Taranaki

The vast majority of South Taranaki residents are happy with the services their council provides according to an independent survey.

The Research First survey of 405 residents across all four South Taranaki wards found that 93% of residents were happy with the overall service the Council provides (the same as last year). 83% of those surveyed also felt the Council was moving in the right direction and 81% 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.

Council services and facilities that residents were most satisfied with were the district’s libraries (99%), the tidiness and maintenance of cemeteries (98%), parks and reserves (97%), playgrounds and halls (94%) and the kerbside rubbish and recycling service (92%).

The services that had the lowest satisfaction rates were the condition of roads (59% satisfaction), stormwater services (76% satisfaction), the control of animals (76% satisfaction) and water supply (78% satisfaction),

Council CEO, Waid Crockett, says he 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,” he 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 Research First over February and March 2021.

The survey results can be found here.