Far North District Council – Headquarters

Took a few years and grateful for the new outlet for the drainage on the road outside our house at Te Karaka Hokianga .... things do happen unfortunately it takes a little longer for the north ..

The administration is lacking in internal accountability to the rate payers that fund the council. Deeply concerning, requires audit and external review. Further to this, policies and procedures put in place by well paid executives are failing both the community and council staff. Middle to Upper managers need to lift their game in order to improve outcomes for both council employees and the public that they interact with. It’s all a bit CowBoy.

Unauthorised debit order deducted from our account by FNDC currently in the process of disputing this with our banking institution.

Recycling Nightmare - 3 weeks of my life I'll never get back Hi Anyone else perplexed that their recycling isn’t being collected at the roadside? It turns out that in our area Far North District Council and Whangarei District Council and Northland waste (who collect/reject our recycling) all have a part to play. My red bin hasn’t been collected for the past 2 weeks and I have been trying to find out what I’m doing wrong. It has taken me several hours of phoning and emailing to get to the bottom of it. I have rang and left messages that haven’t been returned and emails that have been left unanswered for over a week. This is not a big issue, it shouldn’t take this long to sort it. Yesterday I finally had had enough. I sent an email to all stakeholders (one of the directors of Northland waste, the chief executive of Far North District Council and Whangarei District Council plus several other office/admin emails). I have now had had 3 responses:- • Northland waste customer services have finally given me the correct answer after first contacting them 2 weeks ago • A director of Northland waste phoned and left a message (it shouldn’t take the input of a director to get the customer service ball rolling) • A senior manager in Far North District Council It seems to me there is a lot of buck passing here and a fair amount of confusion. Recycling should be a simple and ethical process that everyone can do easily wherever they live. This has not been the case for me. It has taken me several weeks to get the right answer as to why my recycling wasn't being collected So why am I making such a fuss when it’s not really that big an issue? Well, that's the point, it shouldn't be a big issue - but between Northland Waste, Far North District Council and Whangarei District council, they have put systems in place which are not simple to follow. I have wasted several hours of my life trying to get the right answer to a very simple question and that IS a big issue to me. My time is precious, as is yours I suspect. And it’s not just me, on the drive back from town yesterday I passed 5 red bins on the highway that hadn't been emptied - these residents clearly didn't know the rules either! So to enlighten you confused residents and residents who have just moved to Northland wondering where on earth you have just moved to):- • I live within the boundary of Far North District Council - I fall under their jurisdiction • There is a roadside recycling collection available as listed on the FNDC website provided by Northland waste • FNDC make it clear they do not contract out Northland waste services • It turns out that WDC contract out to Northland Waste • WDC set the rules for what can and cannot be recycled (even for rubbish that is collected by Northland waste in FNDC region) • Neither Northland waste or FNDC provide ANY guidelines about what can be put in these red bins • Only a flyer from WDC finally answers these questions (incidentally WDC - those sticky labels the rubbish guys stick to the red bins at the roadside which don't match up to your rules don't include the bit about keeping the cardboard separate and outside the bin) With more people moving to Northland and more recycling building up on the street wouldn’t it be a good idea for WDC, FNDC and Northland waste to get their heads together and provide clear complete information on their websites, flyers and sticky roadside labels.

My first introduction into Local Government stuff. First started as a Cadet in 2011 through Cadetship program, then IT Cadet, to IT Support Technician to IT Technician now. Great organisation to work in, but even better staff who work here. Lots of morning or afternoon teas. Still a lot more to contribute back to our community (work in progress) Great job oppurtunities for youth wanting to stay in the Far North "Put your best foot forward" I love the Far North Arohanui