16 June 2006

Wellington City’s annual report takes top prize

Wellington City Council’s Annual Report has won the Supreme Award in the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants’ Annual Report Awards – believed to be the first time the top award has gone to a local authority.

The Council won top prize against strong competition from some of New Zealand’s top companies, corporations and Crown entities, at the awards presentation in Wellington last night. As well, the 2005 Annual Report won the Local Government category.

The awards recognise excellence in financial reporting to stakeholders.

Council Chief Financial Officer Neil Cherry, who accepted the award on behalf of the Council, says the accolade recognises the quality of its reporting back to ratepayers.

“We have done well in the local authority category before, but we were surprised and delighted to stand up and be probably the first local authority to take the Supreme Award. In the past that’s been won by commercial corporations such as the Telecoms and the Meridians of this world.”

Mr Cherry says the Annual Report has to cover the whole spectrum of Wellington City Council business and services. “We are a large and complex operation with a big story to tell. The challenge was to tell it to our diverse audience – the people of Wellington - in a way they could relate to. That is how I see the Annual Report Award: it’s about how well we told that story.”

New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants Chief Executive Garry Muriwai says the Council’s achievement was that its report to ratepayers was clear and concise and addressed a wide range of readers. “It had to be pitched at a level that everyone could understand.”

The award judges said the Council’s Annual report showed clearly what needed to be achieved and how that was achieved.

“Even though a large document, the report was user friendly. Each of the sections made sense on their own recognising the wide and varied audience that have distinct interests in parts of the Council’s operations. The report gave the reader a good feel for the vision and direction of the Council in a manner that anyone can understand,” the judges said.

Council Chief Executive Garry Poole says the achievement recognises a fantastic effort by staff. “We told our story very successfully. This absolutely reinforces our vision of Creative Wellington – Innovation Capital.”

ENDS

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