Council seeks public feedback through survey
Opotiki residents should not be surprised if they get a phone call in coming days seeking their opinions on a range of Council activities and services.
The National Research Bureau (NRB) has again been engaged to conduct Council's annual resident's survey. The NRB is an independent company well-experienced in surveying residents for local government authorities throughout the country.
"The Community Satisfaction Survey is part of the Council's continuing commitment to actively seek public opinion and involvement," says Opotiki District Council Chief Executive Aileen Lawrie.
"Council does take notice of the survey results and uses the information gathered to inform its decisions. Last year's survey, for example, gave us a clear message that many residents wanted to see an upgraded library with more space and services which helped inform and support Council's decision in to proceed with the build of Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi.
It also showed residents satisfaction with our Animal Control service was increasing so Council continued to focus efforts in this area with free microchipping for dogs registered on time, a neutering programme for dangerous dogs, pop up shops in Te Kaha with discounted registrations and free microchipping and a greater emphasis on rehoming pound dogs.
To ensure a broad cross-section of community responses, people living in all three wards of the Opotiki district will be telephoned using a randomised selection method and asked their opinions on a wide range of Council issues and the services it delivers to residents.
"Traditionally, we've received some feedback from residents whose phone numbers didn't come up in the random selection. We love that Opotiki people are so engaged and want to provide feedback, and we welcome that any time, either through our Have your say page on our website, in person at the customer services desk, or through our specialist app Antenno," Ms Lawrie concludes.
Responses from the NRB survey, expected to be completed by Wednesday 12 February, will form part of the results for Council's Annual Report to 30 June 2020.
