SuperLocal Awards celebrate the best of local government in action

The achievements of outstanding local government people and projects were celebrated at LGNZ’s annual SuperLocal Awards tonight, wrapping up the LGNZ SuperLocal25 Conference in Christchurch.

Buller District Council was a deserved winner of the SuperIdea award, for their ‘Cutting our own track’ project, about planning to relocate the town of Westport the West Coast way: practically, locally and led by the people.

Judges described the winning entry as a playbook on humanity, praising its courage and care in the face of huge climate challenges, and calling it a rare mix of empathy and realism. One judge described it as “a roadmap for moving a community with dignity”.

The BECA SuperEngaged award was taken out by Waipā District Council and their Ahu Ake – Waipā’s Community Spatial Plan; a 30-year roadmap for Waipā. The judges were struck by how Waipā engaged with its community, with one calling it “a deeply thoughtful, inclusive and future-focused strategy” that went well beyond standard consultation.

The Fulton Hogan SuperCollab award was scooped up by the Ada Street Safety Initiative. Once a hotspot for arson and crime, Ada Street in Palmerston North is now a symbol of community strength. The award recognises collaboration by Palmerston North City Council and Horizons Regional Council in partnership with NZ Police, Fire Emergency NZ, Department of Corrections and the Landlords’ Association.

Our Waitarakao: Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon Catchment Strategy, submitted by Environment Canterbury, Timaru District Council, Department of Conservation and Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, won the Air New Zealand SuperSteward award. This long-term plan was a collaborative strategy to restore the mauri of the Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon catchment, with judges commending the project as a huge strategic piece of forward planning.

In the final award of the evening, Deputy Mayor Annette Brosnan from Napier City Council claimed the SuperHuman award after 12 exceptional years in local government. Annette's work has helped shape a better Napier, with judges commenting on her contribution to delivering some of the city’s most ambitious projects – and her ability to engage her community on challenging issues.

LGNZ Chief Executive Susan Freeman-Greene congratulated the winners and other finalists, as well as everyone who entered this year’s awards.

“The quality and number of awards this year has blown us away; I know how hard the judges found it to decide the winners. Some entries that didn’t make the list of finalists were outstanding,” says Susan Freeman-Greene.

“Despite the pressure, uncertainty and constant change that councils face every day, it’s fantastic to see them delivering outstanding results for their communities. These awards and the award winners are testament to that.”

The judging panel for the awards was chaired by LGNZ Chief Executive Susan Freeman-Greene and included:

• Brad Olsen, Infometrics Chief Executive and Principal Economist
• Kerry Prendergast, Director of Tourism Industry Aotearoa
• Tim Cadogan, Taumata Arowai
• Amelia Linzey, Group CEO of Beca
• Anne Haira, Deputy Secretary, Partnerships, Investment and Enablement at the Ministry for the Environment
• Rachel Reese, Rachel Reese Consulting
• Justin Lester, Dot Loves Data
• Don Cameron, former Mayor of Ruapehu
• Penny Hulse MNZM, local government specialist
• Rachel Smith, Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa
• Grace Hall, former LGNZ Policy director, now with Brent Council London
• Nicole Wihongi, Waitangi Trust.