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Taupo State of the District Reference Report 2007

To download the Taupo State of the District Reference Report 2007 click Here. ( 2.41 MB PDF) 
To download the Taupo State of the District Summary Report 2007 click HERE. ( 3.11 MB PDF)

Introduction – Our People, Our Future

In 2004, the Taupo District Community Outcomes process was initiated through a working group of Taupo District Council, Café for Youth Health, Department of Internal Affairs, Heartland Services and Taupo Primary Health Organisation.  Other community agencies and groups were invited to a workshop in October 2004.  Using information from that workshop and previous community planning work on the VAST (Vibrant and Sustainable Taupo) project and 2020 Taupo-nui-ā-Tia Action Plan, the working group developed a consultation process during the period 2004/05 to identify Community Outcomes or aspirations for the Taupo District.

The Taupo District Community Outcomes statements were finalised in May 2005 and presented back to the community as part of Taupo District Council’s ‘Our District, Our Future, Fresh Thinking’ Expo.  The statements are clustered around five high-level themes:

• Lakes, Rivers, Landscapes – Places we are proud of.
• Health People, Healthy Communities.
• Safe and Secure.
• Thriving and Prosperous.
• Vibrant and Diverse.

Monitoring Progress Toward Community Outcomes

This report summarises progress toward the Taupo District Community Outcomes.  States and trends are highlighted for specific measures and indicators (eg, road traffic crashes) and general conclusions are made about underlying outcomes (eg, Safe and Secure).  The report’s purpose is to help inform decision-makers about community needs in the Taupo District, to promote better co-ordination and application of community resources.  The intention is to help guide Taupo District communities on a journey toward more sustainable development.

Taupo District Council’s first step in monitoring Community Outcomes was the ‘Top Twenty’ Report.  Copies can be obtained from TDC offices and viewed on the TDC website.  Twenty key indicators were chosen and reported on to give an overall picture of the District.  This State of the District Reference Report is the next stage in the Community Outcomes monitoring and reporting process.  It includes substantially more indicators than the Top Twenty Report and describes progress toward specific Community Outcomes.

TDC is taking an integrated approach to monitoring, by choosing indicators relevant for:

• State of the Environment and District Plan monitoring under the Resource Management Act 1991.
• Monitoring progress on the 2020 Taupo-nui-ā-Tia Action Plan and associated community values (refer www.taupoinfo.org.nz).
• Corporate (TDC) performance monitoring as measured through resident surveys and other indicators.

TDC is also involved in a regional approach to monitoring Community Outcomes through the MARCO (Monitoring and Reporting Community Outcomes) working group.

Residents, organisations and groups are invited to provide feedback on this report by writing or e-mailing Taupo District Council.  Please send feedback to: Strategic Development, Taupo District Council, Private Bag 2005, TAUPO 3352, or e-mail general@taupo.govt.nz.

Key Results

Community well-being as a whole appears to have improved in the Taupo District since the 1990s.  Indicators show that the District is progressing well on a number of fronts including:

• Low unemployment overall and a relatively high rate of economic growth.
• Improved health statistics, though still behind the national average.
• A high level of community spirit and perceived quality of life.

Areas we are not doing well as a District include:

• A high and increasing number of motor vehicle crashes and casualties.
• Increased measures of algae in Lake Taupo over the past decade in response to long-term nutrient enrichment.
• Below average socio-economic status and associated outcomes such as poorer health.
• Below average rates of student engagement and educational attainment.
• Above average rates of criminal offending, even allowing for tourism numbers.
• Rising notifications of child abuse and neglect, although in part this may be due to increased awareness within communities.
• Relatively expensive housing and a declining rate of home ownership.
• Open fires and older wood burners are contributing to high levels of airborne particulates during winter months, which can affect people’s health.  During 2006 the level of particulates in Taupo’s air exceeded Environment Waikato guidelines on 15 separate days.
• Voter turnout declined between the 1995 and 2004 local body elections, both in the Taupo District and other parts of New Zealand.  However voter turnout in Taupo is consistently above the national average.

Addressing the priority issues above will make the Taupo District an even better place to live over the coming years.

Note that indicators of social and economic well-being are more readily available than environmental and cultural indicators.  There is a need to develop better cultural indicators in particular, and improve the ways we measure environmental and cultural well-being at a local and national level.

Further Information

A wide range of organisations are working collaboratively toward a more sustainable future for Taupo District communities.  For further information contact:

Strategic Development
Taupo District Council
Private Bag 2005
TAUPO 3352
http://www.taupo.govt.nz
Ph 0-7-376 0899
E-mail general@taupo.govt.nz

Taupo District Community Outcomes

To view the poster that summarises 'Our People, Our Future - Taupo District Community Outcomes' click HERE ( 296 kb PDF ).

The information in the Top 20 Report, which is a first step towards monitoring Community Outcomes can be viewed HERE.

Sample Images from Community Outcomes

Previous News and Issues

  • At the end of May 2005 a final set of community outcomes for the Taupo district was signed off by the working group. The outcomes will be used by Taupo District Council and community agencies to help with future planning.
  • In April, feedback from a recent public consultation process undertaken to help develop a set of Community Outcomes for the Taupo district was presented to a workshop.
  • To view the feedback form for 'our people, our future' click HERE ( 275 kb PDF ). 
  • To view the media release March, 2005 click HERE. More than 500 feedback forms seeking public comment to a set of potential Community Outcomes...have been returned.
  • The public consultation process in February included a photographic display featuring photos taken by locals reflecting what was important to them about the district. See some of the photos below. 
  • To view the media release February, 2005 click HERE. The display 'our people, our future' is being used to stimulate public interest in development of a set of Community Outcomes for the Taupo district...
  • To see Choosing Futures Waikato click HERE. Working together to identify community aspirations.

 



 

       

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