At least some of them.
More than $6 million over five years will be saved through a shared IT project involving the Hastings, CHB and Regional Councils.
Central Hawke’s Bay mayor Will Foley said this was just the beginning of what regional Hawke’s Bay looks like. “We’re all going to be working together to share services, create efficiencies and cut costs going forward.”
So why aren’t Napier City Council and Wairoa District Council participating?
Indeed, this is what “Regional Hawke’s Bay” looks like when some councils choose to play on the team, others don’t.
For the three councils participating, the new regional initiative will modernise their Information and Communications Technology systems and deliver substantial savings for ratepayers.
Initiated by Hastings District Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Technology Services (HBRTS) project also includes Central Hawke’s Bay District Council. It was developed in response to their shared challenges of ageing technology and limited specialist resources.
The project establishes a shared governance structure and service model designed to support ongoing regional collaboration. The foundations laid will enable future joint efforts in areas such as data sharing, advanced analytics, and further shared services.
Hastings mayor Wendy Schollum said: “By sharing IT systems across the region, we’re reducing overheads and investing in more robust technology that supports everyday council services, for today and tomorrow, at a much lower cost than doing it alone.”
Regional Council chair Sophie Siers said: “This is one of the first major steps in a game-changing approach to combine quality and efficiency in shared services; exactly what our region deserves … The savings we expect from this move will flow directly back to our communities.”
For the past six years, Hastings District Council had provided server, storage, network, and technical support services to other Hawke’s Bay councils, including those involved in this project.
HDC’s chief information officer and group spokesperson Warren Perry said that by pooling expertise and standardising systems, the initiative was anticipated to save the region between $6.2 million and $8.4 million over the next five years. “These efficiencies would come through joint procurement, shared management, and streamlined operations.”
However, for Napier and Wairoa Councils, it’s paper cups and strings.
