Female librarian helping female resident sitting at a table with paperwork

The successful partnership between the Selwyn District Council and the Ministry for Social Development (MSD) has been extended for three years to offer Selwyn residents better access to central government services.

The partnership is part of the Heartland programme that aims to give Selwyn residents living throughout the district, including in rural and isolated communities, equitable access to central government services and support.

“Selwyn is the fastest growing district in the country, but central government services haven’t kept up with the pace of growth and this leaves us behind similar populations elsewhere in the country.” says Mayor Sam Broughton.

The Heartland programme enables council staff to support residents' access to the services of MSD, Inland Revenue (IRD), Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), Oranga Tamariki, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), and other agencies through regular drop-in sessions, setting up appointments or family meetings, providing the right contacts and appropriate paperwork, and processing driver's licences.

“The staff at our libraries and service centres have been trained to answer any questions or solve issues for Selwyn residents that previously may have required appointments in the city,” says Denise Kidd, Executive Director of Community Services and Facilities at Selwyn District Council, who emphasises that council staff are not able to carry out the work for central government agencies but can answer any questions or point residents in the right direction.

She says the council service centres across the district are ideally placed to support residents as they know their community well, welcome visitors daily to help them and provide a host of services.

“There are hundreds of wonderful examples where casual conversations have hugely benefited our residents. These are often simple things that can make a big difference or remove a lot of stress, like finding the right paperwork to apply for a Super Gold Card or setting up a phone call with an IRD staffer to find someone’s IRD number.” Kidd explains that for most residents, it is not essential who delivers a government service to them, whether it's a central government agency or the local Council. What matters is that residents get the service they need promptly.

“Residents simply want timely access to the right information, support, or service to address their needs, and they often don’t know where to start,” says Kidd, who adds that the collaboration between central agencies and the Council continues to create new opportunities for both partners.

“Aside from the one-on-one service to our residents, we also facilitate workshops and seminars with central agencies for employers, retired residents, migrants and many other specific groups with specific needs. Or they are represented at larger events like SWELL, the Career Expo or business breakfasts,” says Kidd.

Mayor Broughton reiterated that Heartland is just one of the ways the Council connects the community to services, but these initiatives can only be a temporary solution for our growing population.

We welcome increased investment in social services, as the economic growth of Selwyn has significantly increased the tax take for central government. Until the government fulfils its obligations the Council will continue to grow our Heartland programme, says Mayor Broughton.

Female librarian assisting elderly resident

Last modified: 06 Mar 2025 12:00pm