Napier City Council's team 'The Veronica Bells' has ranked first in the NZ Leg of the JLT Australasian Management Challenge. The Management Challenge is a simulation-based team building, learning and networking program using real local government themes – the types of issues that a senior management team in a council would most likely face.
Each year Taituarā runs the New Zealand leg of the JLT Australasian Management Challenge, Australasia’s premier forum for current and emerging local government leaders.
The teams are challenged to respond to a series of tasks in a unique one-day, fast paced, ‘pressure cooker’ environment, with the winning team going on to represent New Zealand at the Australian finals, competing against seven states and territories.
The judges said that 'The Veronica Bells' completed their tasks consistently to a very high standard, their processes and team work clearly giving them an edge in being productive with their time.
With the Challenge held online this year, teams had the added challenge of navigating tasks in a virtual environment. 'The Veronica Bells' demonstrated all the characteristics of a highly effective team – interacting well, demonstrating collaborative behaviour, and including everyone’s perspectives.
As winners of the New Zealand leg of the JLT Management Challenge the Veronica Bells will go on to represent New Zealand at the Australasian Grand Final in Adelaide, competing later in the year against seven states and territories. In the more than 25 years that this event has been running New Zealand has won more often than any Australian state’s team!
Western Bay of Plenty District Council's team 'Fresh Take' (pictured below) was also placed highly, taking second place.
A superb effort from Central Otago District Council's team 'Pinot Thyme' (pictured below) saw them take third place.
For further information, please see the 2022 Awards Media Pack.