Community Outcomes in New Zealand
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About Community Outcomes

About Community Outcomes




Community outcomes describe what New Zealanders think is important for their local community, now and in the future.

Throughout New Zealand, communities have identified their current community outcomes, through processes led by their local authority. These community outcomes describe the aspirations and priorities of New Zealand's communities, and are a guide for groups and organisations serving the community.

Community outcomes statements create a picture of what local communities want for their future social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being. The outcomes can relate to anything affecting community well-being - embracing anything New Zealanders see as a priority for where they live.

Here are some community outcomes statements from around New Zealand:

  • Northland residents are safe and healthy
  • Otorohanga has a strong and vibrant arts community
  • Waitaki has a diverse, sustainable and growing economy
  • Green Waikato – a district where our natural resources are protected, developed and enhanced for future generations
  • To ensure the sustainable management of resources, and to integrate the Māori perspective of kaitiakitanga or guardianship (Kaikoura District).

View Current community outcomes from around New Zealand.

Communities discuss and identify community outcomes in a process run by local authorities. Community outcomes processes give people the opportunity to participate in decision making in their local area - where they live, work and play.

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Community outcomes are important because they provide the opportunity for communities to talk about and describe a vision for their future. Achieving these desires will improve and ensure the well-being of New Zealand’s communities.

Community outcomes inform and guide the plans of local authorities, central government agencies and other organisations who work in the community, and make sure that these groups know what is important to the community they are serving.

A wide range of groups have a part to play in improving the well-being of local communities.

Groups who can contribute to community outcomes include

  • local authorities – regional, district and city councils
  • central government agencies
  • community and non-government organisations
  • the private sector – e.g. business and industry
  • Māori and iwi groups.

Community outcomes processes encourage organisations to align their planning and services with community aspirations, and to work more closely together to find effective ways of achieving common goals.

Community outcomes processes ensure the community’s voice is heard when it comes to planning their future direction, and encourages greater participation of local people in the decisions that affect them.

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The Local Government Act 2002 provides the legislative framework for community outcomes and community outcomes processes.

Under section 5 of the Act, community outcomes
(a) means the outcomes for that district or region that are identified as priorities for the time being through a process
(b) includes any additional outcomes subsequently identified through community consultation by the local authority as important to the current or future social, economic, environmental, or cultural well-being of the community

Under the Act, community outcomes are:

  • identified through a consultation process, led by local authorities
  • described by local authorities in their long-term council community plans
  • monitored by local authorities, with progress reported regularly
  • used as a focus for encouraging local authorities, central government agencies, and other organisations to work together.

Read more about the Local Government Act 2002.

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Community outcomes processes are the steps taken to identify what the community wants their outcomes to be, and how the community can achieve its outcomes.

Community outcomes processes include:

  • community discussions, led by local authorities, to identify community outcomes
  • identifying stakeholders who can contribute to community outcomes processes
  • publishing community outcomes in local authorities' long-term council community plans
  • monitoring and reporting on the progress that is being made to achieve community outcomes
  • actions by groups, organisations and people in the community to achieve community outcomes.

Community outcomes processes encourage the whole community to participate in identifying, working together and achieving common goals.

Community outcomes processes are coordinated by local authorities, under the The Local Government Act 2002. Local authorities decide how they undertake community outcomes processes in their area. The processes must encourage public participation in identifying community outcomes. Local authorities are required to consult with their communities about their outcomes at least every six years.

Read more about community outcomes processes.

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Everyone in the community has a role to play to improve community well-being.

No single organisation has responsibility for achieving community outcomes. They provide a guide to groups about what people want for their community. A wide range of organisations and groups within communities can contribute towards community outcomes.

Groups who can contribute to community outcomes include

  • local authorities – regional, district and city councils
  • central government agencies
  • community and non-government organisations
  • the private sector – e.g. business and industry
  • Māori and iwi groups.

Local authorities have a central role in coordinating community outcomes processes in their area under the Local Government Act 2002. Local authorities are not required to formally adopt community outcomes.

Local authorities provide some of the services and amenities that contribute to achieving community outcomes. However local authorities are not responsible for doing everything. Many aspects of achieving community outcomes require the input and actions of other groups in the community.

Under the Act, local authorities need to identify the other organisations and groups in their area who can contribute to community outcomes. Achieving community outcomes will take the combined efforts of these groups, and local people themselves.

Find out more about working together to achieve community outcomes.

Community outcomes belong to the community. They do not belong to the local authority, or any other agency that contributes to them. They are the community’s aspirations, and can be altered only by further consultation with the community.

Read more about getting involved in community outcomes.

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Local authorities run a consultation process at least every six years, whereby the community discusses and prioritise the things that are important for its future. These things, for example “a quality standard of affordable housing” are identified as the community outcomes.

Community outcomes are described in each local authority’s long-term council community plan.

View the current community outcomes in New Zealand.

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