22 June 2026
Gisborne District Council has been recognised on the national stage, taking home two major awards at the annual Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards held in Wellington last Thursday night.
Turning the Tide: Large Woody Debris AI-assisted Removal project won both the Datascape Award for Digital Local Government and the 2026 Taituarā Members’ Choice Award.
Following Cyclone Gabrielle, managing large woody debris across rivers and coastlines throughout Tairāwhiti was a significant challenge.
By combining AI-assisted aerial imagery, drone technology, advanced mapping and a bespoke risk assessment framework, Council was able to move from a site-by-site reactive approach to a transparent, risk-based system for identifying and prioritising areas of greatest need.
The project supported the removal of more than 600,000 cubic metres of debris across seven major catchments, helping protect communities, infrastructure and the environment.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz says the awards are a proud moment for Council and the wider Tairāwhiti community.
"I'm so proud of our team and the many people who worked through an incredibly difficult recovery environment and found a smarter, safer and more effective way to respond,” Mayor Stoltz says.
Council's chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann said Cyclone Gabrielle left our region with complex and urgent challenges.
"This project shows what can be achieved when local knowledge, technical expertise and innovation are brought together with a clear focus on protecting our communities.”
The Taituarā judges praised the project’s use of technology and evidence-based decision-making.
“Turning the tide on woody debris brings together a cutting-edge application of artificial intelligence and drone technology, and a robust evidence-based decision-making process,” the judges said.
“The transformation from a site-based, reactive process to transparent, risk-based one provided us with one of the most compelling ‘before’ and ‘after’ stories this year.”
Ms Thatcher Swann says winning the Members’ Choice Award was especially meaningful.
“To be recognised by our peers across local government means a lot. Every council in Aotearoa is facing big challenges, and this award shows that the work happening here in Tairāwhiti is helping lead the way for others too.”
Council’s Director Engagement and Māori Partnerships, Anita Reedy-Holthausen was also selected for the Taituarā AskYourTeam Overseas Manager Exchange to New South Wales, Australia. The award recognised her extraordinary leadership and responsiveness to community and hapū needs through emergencies and complex disaster recovery.
Ms Thatcher Swann says the recognition is thoroughly deserved.
“Anita has been an outstanding leader for our region, this exchange is a valuable opportunity to share the hard-won insights from our region’s recovery, and to bring back new thinking that will support our region’s long-term resilience."
A Gisborne District Council team also received second place in the Taitūara Management Challenge. The competition took place in April and involves teams from council’s who compete in scenario-based challenges.
The LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards showcase outstanding programmes, projects, partnerships and initiatives from across New Zealand’s local government sector. The awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership that deliver positive outcomes for communities and create learnings that can be shared across the sector.
Photo: Principal project advisor Sarah Pohatu accepted the award on behalf of Council’s woody debris team, with Chief Executive Nedine Thatcher Swann (L) and Mayor Rehette Stoltz (R). Photography by Smoke, supplied by Taituarā.