A range of digital innovation is on show in this year’s Datascape Award for Excellence in Digital Local Government, part of the LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards®.
The category recognises councils that are using technology to transform services, strengthen democratic participation, and deliver better outcomes for their communities. From improving accessibility and streamlining processes to enabling smarter, data-driven decisions, this year’s entries highlight the growing impact of digital leadership across the sector.
Five entries have been received this year with each demonstrating a different approach to harnessing technology to solve real-world challenges.
This year’s submissions include projects focused on reimagining core council services such as planning and building, alongside innovative approaches to environmental management, open data, and community engagement. Some initiatives showcase how digital platforms can simplify complex processes for customers, while others highlight the power of data visualisation and modelling to support better long-term decision-making.
Two entries centre on the digital transformation of planning and building services, areas that are often complex and highly regulated. Thematicallty, they’re in good company, the very first Supreme Award winner was a project which created New Zealand’s first online end to end building consent portal.
Other entries highlight the expanding role of data and emerging technologies. These include the use of open data partnerships to bring critical information, such as flood risk, directly into tools used by the public, as well as the application of advanced modelling and digital environments to support urban planning and community engagement.
Digital transformation is a powerful tool in local government and the range of entries shows that impactful digital innovation is not limited to the bigger councils.
“The entries in the Datascape Award show digital leadership isn’t solely the preserve of those with big budgets, or a heap of resource,” says Raymond Horan, Chief Advisor at Taituarā.
This year’s entries demonstrate how councils are continuing to innovate by using digital tools to deliver more responsive, transparent, and resilient services.
2026 Entries
- Digital Twin – Hamilton City Council
- P2B2 (Plan to build together) – Waikato District Council
- Re-Imagining the LIMs Process – Palmerston North City Council
- Trade Me/OneRoof Open Data Collaboration – Flood plain mapping project – Auckland Council
- Turning The Tide Large Woody Debris AI-assisted Removal – Te Kaunihera o Te Tairāwhiti – Gisborne District Council
Members’ choice
Taituarā members have the opportunity to recognise the initiatives making the biggest impact through the Members’ Choice Award. Voting for this category is open from 23–27 March. The with the top-voted projects progressing to a final round of voting across all categories.
Winners of the LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards® will be announced at the Awards Dinner on 18 June in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Tickets are available to purchase now.
