Media Release:

New webcasts connect with tech-savvy residents and ratepayers

North Shore City residents can learn first-hand from Mayor Andrew Williams how their rates are being spent over the next year, thanks to a new video clip hosted by the Council’s website and YouTube.

These internet sites – www.northshorecity.govt.nz and www.youtube.com/NSCCvideo – currently feature three council-produced webcasts, including a clip promoting North Shore City as a great place to "live, work and play". Mayor Williams profiles our beaches, eating spots, shopping and business areas, and tertiary education facilities like Massey University and AUT.

The video has already been screened internationally, with a DVD broadcast to a business delegation in Canada last week.

Mayor Williams found that important meetings on the Annual Plan would prevented him from accepting an invitation to accompany the high level delegation to Canada, initiated by the Canada New Zealand Business Association and designed to help North Shore technology-based businesses trade with Canada.

“Instead, I spent a day with the council’s Communications team on location around top North Shore destinations and businesses, and used innovative technology to ‘sell the Shore’ to an international audience,” says Mayor Williams.

The DVD was sent with the Chief Executive of Enterprise North Shore, Terry Hoskins, a member of the delegation to Canada.

Says Mayor Williams: “I’m excited about the opportunities to communicate direct with our ratepayers by utilising video, the internet and broadband

“Last Monday we set the rate increase for 2008/09 at 5.9%. The following morning we had a video up on the council’s website allowing me to explain the priorities of our Annual Plan.

“The immediacy of the web is its great benefit, and it allows the council to connect with a much wider audience, including the younger members of our community.”

Mayor Williams says the videos are made in-house to a high quality and at minimal cost by utilising the skills of staff with TV and multi-media backgrounds: “It’s a means of communication we will look to increasingly utilise.”

“Financial matters are sometimes very hard to absorb from print, and the web allows the council to verbally communicate this information and outline priorities for the year.”

Mayor Williams says the council is taking steps to increasingly use appropriate technology to improve the way ratepayers and residents can communicate and transact business with the council.

The video initiative is just one of many recent enhancements to the council’s website. Through www.northshorecity.govtnz residents can pay rates, registrations and other bills, look at documents, gain personal and community property information and sign-up to receive council’s monthly eNewsletter, ‘Shorelife’.

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