The independent survey, carried out by Key Research earlier this year, gathered feedback from 405 residents and confirmed that Waimate was a great place to live and the council was serving the community well, a council spokesperson said.
Waimate ranked above the national average among 21 councils in 36 out of 38 key areas and was recognised as a top performer in 12.
From overall performance and reputation to quality of life and leadership, the results reflected a district that was well-governed and well-supported, the spokeperson said.
One of the most encouraging results was the 86% of respondents who rated their overall quality of life in Waimate as positive, one of the highest scores in the country.
Parks and reserves continued to be a community favourite, with 87% satisfaction, the highest rating among council facilities.
Waste management also received strong praise, with 85% of respondents satisfied with the collection service.
While most areas saw improvement, the survey highlighted concerns around rising rates.
Like many councils across New Zealand, Waimate was facing the challenge of increasing costs to deliver essential services, but remained committed to keeping rate increases manageable, maintaining low debt and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
Mayor Craig Rowley welcomed the results of the independent survey.
"We’ve outperformed our peers across the country.
"We’ll take on board the feedback, learn from it, and continue to improve."
The residents survey was conducted every two years and played a vital role in shaping the council’s priorities and guiding future improvements. — Allied Media
