Otago Regional Council (ORC) is encouraging ratepayers contacted by letter to take part in its latest community survey – which will help shape the future of services to the public.

The Community Survey 2026 will start appearing in the mailboxes of more than 14,000 randomly selected ratepayers from this week, ORC chair Hilary Calvert said.

She said it is important for the regional council to know as much as it can about what people in Otago feel the ORC is doing well and what we can do better.

“This will help us be the very best council we can be in the time we have left.”

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ORC hopes for more responses by switching from cold calling phone numbers to the hard-copy, mail-out format.

The survey will also be available online, where people who complete it can go in the draw for one of six $100 supermarket vouchers.

ORC’s regular community surveys aim to understand how people across Otago view the council, its role and work, and their perceptions of environmental factors, ORC general manager strategy and customer Amanda Vercoe said.

“The survey results will help inform decision-making, improve services, and meet accountability and transparency expectations,” Amanda said

She said the most recent community surveys some clear patterns and key issues:

• Most people know ORC manages Otago’s natural resources, but awareness is lower among younger people and non-ratepayers
• Water quality remains the biggest environmental concern across Otago
• Climate change is becoming a more important issue for more people
• Views of ORC improve most when work is visible, such as flood protection projects
• Many people still want clearer communication about what ORC does and why

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“The surveys help track changes over time, highlight what matters most to communities throughout Otago, and show us where projects, programmes or monitoring are working well or need improvement,” she said.

Otago residents can take the Community Survey 2026 online until February 22.

PHOTO: Wānaka App