Te Korowai
Insight. Implementation. Impact.
For six years, LGNZ’s local government excellence programme (formerly known as CouncilMARK), has been guiding local councils towards excellence and continuous improvement.
In 2022, we took a significant step forward, refining our approach to better tackle the challenges of today. We've expanded beyond assessments and performance benchmarking to continuous development — supporting councils to perform at their best. While maintaining our independence, our new wraparound support services foster genuine conversations about performance, nurturing growth, and ensuring councils can fulfil their community's aspirations.
How does it work?
Te Korowai operates through three stages. Councils engage fully in benchmarking, action planning, and repeated evaluations every three years. But we've made it accessible to all, offering multiple pathways to join the programme.
Stage one: This stage begins with an integrity survey, allowing councils to evaluate their performance across six key areas independently.
- Governance, leadership and strategy.
- Financial decision-making and transparency.
- Service delivery and asset management.
- Communicating and engaging with the public and business.
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- Climate Change.
Stage two: An on-site visit enables independent assessors to gather insights from governance teams, staff, and community stakeholders, focusing on key areas 1-4.
Stage three: The outcomes and action planning process involves input from councils, culminating in a debrief and workshop to plan the next steps.
By the end of Te Korowai, you'll have a deeper understanding of strengths and weaknesses, enabling faster, more effective decision-making and a clear action plan for continuous improvement.
When's the best time to start?
Whether it's a new leadership transition, preparing for long-term planning, or simply ensuring smooth operations, Te Korowai offers invaluable insights. The best time to get started with Te Korowai – is now.
Contact us
Elke Thompson
Programme Manager, Te Korowai