GDC highly commended at LGNZ awards

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Two Gisborne District Council projects have been highly commended in the 2021 Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) Excellence Awards.

The council was recognised in the Kainga Ora Homes and Communities Excellence Award for Social Wellbeing for its Provincial Growth Fund Tairawhiti Roading Package, and in the Creative New Zealand Excellence Award for Cultural Wellbeing for its Puhi Kai Iti Cook Landing Site Redevelopment.

The judges praised Gisborne District Council for its leadership in creating a mechanism through the road package to redeploy displaced workers.

The judges' citation noted: “The council put a lot of emphasis into supporting and increasing the capacity and skillset of local businesses resulting in the creation of quality jobs and enabling the community to increase its social wellbeing.”

The judges commended the council for its respectful and proactive engagement with iwi on the Puhi Kai Iti project.

The project “was directed at addressing historical grievances through sensitivity and care and by taking the time to do it properly”.

Hastings District Council won the Kainga Ora Homes and Communities Excellence Award for Social Well-being for its highly successful Place-Based Housing Plan, and the Creative New Zealand Excellence Award for Cultural Well-being for the Toitoi – Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre project.

The LGNZ awards recognise and celebrate the key leadership role local government provides and the work it undertakes to promote and grow the wellbeing of communities throughout New Zealand.