Council reflects on past year as it looks to future

The past 12 months have been a “year of two halves”, according to the Gisborne District Council’s annual report.

The document, which covers the period July 2022 to June 2023, provides an overview of performance as well as offering direction for the future.

According to the council, the second half of the financial year had seen a shift in focus towards recovery and reconnecting communities, resulting in a decrease of some performance measures.

With staff and contractors diverted for emergency work, target response times had dropped, meaning there had been a decline in how the community viewed some services.

“The devastation left in the wake of cyclones Hale and Gabrielle was, and still is, significant,” a council report accompanying the document stated.

“The scale of damage and destruction caused by these events has left us with big recovery bills, and while this Annual Report notes the immediate work that has been done in response to these events, it also highlights that there is a long road to recovery ahead of us.”

Speaking at Thursday’s council meeting, chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann reiterated earlier comments from councillor Rawinia Parata that there was “a story behind the year”.

Although the council thought the period from 2021 - 2022 had been tough with Covid mandates and four significant weather events, it was in for “a real surprise” when this year rolled around, she said.

Highlights for Ms Thatcher Swann included the opening of the Kiwa Pools, upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant and a new Civil Defence building.

Other significant events included the petition from Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti which led to the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use, resource management reforms and changing to a different entity under Three Waters reforms.

“The whole organisation shifted to supporting our community in the events so, as you heard from our auditors, basically doing two jobs,” Ms Thatcher Swann said.

“I really just want to pause and acknowledge what’s been achieved by my team in particular, and commend the efforts of my staff this year.

“There’ll be many views about how we performed and that, but I know myself that

. . . our team did a damn good job.”

The council’s accounting surplus of $19.8 million for the year was the result of prudent financial management and a team effort, she said.

At Thursday’s meeting, deputy mayor Josh Wharehinga sought reassurance from Ernst & Young partner Stuart Mutch about the council’s performance.

The organisation’s financial statements were audited by Ernst & Young to the tune of $238,000, excluding disbursements.

Mr Mutch did not answer the question directly, but said the organisation had gone through a period of stress, and people were having to work “twice as hard as normal”.

“There’s obviously been some discussions around ‘judgemental’ matters and how they should be treated, but from everything we’ve seen, controls have continued to operate . . . processes have continued to be effective,” he said.

Ernst & Young’s audit opinion will be released on adoption of the Annual Report.

The report also listed objectives for the council’s 2023/24 Annual Plan, including roading reinstatement work and new temporary access throughout the region.

Other objectives included woody debris and silt removal from beaches, heightened focus on forestry practices and expansion of land management planning.