Whakatāne District Council has reimagined work. What began as a building refurbishment in response to required earthquake strengthening work resulted in a seismic shift in how we work. We realised changing how we work actually changes how we live. And that changed us for the better.
In 2021, staff began talking to each other about how they wanted to work both now and into the future, and what they needed to be at their best. In early 2022 the ‘Reimagining Work’ project was launched in response to these conversations. People Leaders made a bold decision to embrace a new way of working and lead a journey of transformation. Today, Whakatāne District Council works in a fully hybrid manner. Staff are more connected to one another, more balanced in their approach to work and life, and better placed to meet the needs of Whakatāne District communities. This project was rooted in meaningful staff interactions, excellent change management practices and full backing from Council’s Executive Leadership Team. It’s an approach that can be easily replicated by other councils wanting to make lasting and meaningful improvements to the way their organisation works.
