Tararua Council 'The Friendliest'

Building staff at Tararua District Council have been given a pat on the back.

A company in Palmerston North has rated Tararua as the friendliest and most efficient council because of its public relations and ability to deal with building consents.

“The staff really bend over backwards to help you out,” says Total Span Manawatu display office manager Graham Ramsay.

Total Span is a franchised construction business specialising in domestic buildings including sleep outs, residences - and in Tararua’s case - garages and workshops.

Mr Ramsay is impressed with the council’s willingness to be proactive in overcoming problems and the speed of its consents procedure.

“Some councils can take up to six weeks but with Tararua we normally expect a turnaround in two weeks,” he said.

Both parties have frequent contact with the bulk of the business going to urban clients.

The council’s manager environmental services Mike Brown said his department’s philosophy was to help rather than hinder.

Sorting out an issue by telephone for example is quicker than by letter writing”.

The department appreciated Mr Ramsay’s remarks and “it was good to be doing something right,” Mr Brown said.