South Island Strategic Alliance – faster, cheaper and collaborative

Efficiencies and increased collaboration between Councils is the focus of the South Island Strategic Alliance (SISA) involving nearly all the Councils of the South Island.

As a result of a meeting last month between all interested South Island councils, a small group made up of elected representatives and senior management from 12 councils and the Department of Internal Affairs has been formed. This group will examine potential projects where there are real and achievable benefits, for example in roading, information technology and library services and then allocate the project to a group of willing council CEOs for progression.

“Shared procurement is relatively easy and doesn’t require organisational structural changes”, said Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne, “however, the successful delivery of shared services needs real commitment from governance and management and that is something I am confident these councils will deliver.”

“Increasing expectations from our communities and central government has rightly directed Councils to look for cost savings and increased efficiencies in the way we deliver services.”

“The members of the Alliance have committed their support to these goals and many are already working with each other to achieve them.”

“Within this alliance we will have the ability to maintain the unique needs and aspirations of the communities we represent while having cheaper access to commonly used resources and providing improved levels of service. It can only be a win-win for ratepayers,” concluded Mayor Kempthorne.

SISA will build on the links many of the Councils have with central government initiatives already in both shared services and joint procurement further strengthening those relationships and creating greater opportunities for savings.

South Island Alliance members

• Central Otago District Council
• Clutha District Council
• Dunedin City Council
• Environment Southland
• Gore District Council
• Invercargill City Council
• Otago Regional Council
• Queenstown-Lakes District Council
• Southland District Council
• Waitaki District Council
• Ashburton District Council
• Buller District Council
• Chatham Islands Council
• Environment Canterbury
• Grey District Council
• Hurunui District Council
• Kaikoura District Council
• Mackenzie District Council
• Marlborough District Council
• Nelson City Council
• Selwyn District Council
• Tasman District Council
• Timaru District Council
• Waimakariri District Council
• Waimate District Council
• West Coast Regional Council
• Westland District Council