Three Hawke’s Bay councils are set to collaborate on a shared IT project that is expected to deliver more than $6 million in savings over five years.
Initiated by Hastings District Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Technology Services (HBRTS) project also includes Central Hawke’s Bay District Council.
The Councils say the project was developed in response to their shared challenges of ageing technology and limited specialist resources.
It establishes a shared governance structure and service model designed to support ongoing regional collaboration. The foundations laid will enable future joint efforts in areas such as data sharing, advanced analytics, and further shared services.
Hastings Mayor, Wendy Schollum said the initiative reflected the region’s commitment to forward-thinking, innovative, community-focused service delivery.
“This is a strong example of councils delivering what we promised our residents; working together to save costs and avoid duplication. By sharing IT systems across the region, we’re reducing overheads and investing in more robust technology that supports everyday council services, for today and tomorrow, at a much lower cost than doing it alone,” she said.
Hastings Council’s chief information officer and group spokesperson, Warren Perry said that by pooling expertise and standardising systems, the initiative was anticipated to save the region between $6.2 million and $8.4 million over the next five years.
“These efficiencies would come through joint procurement, shared management, and streamlined operations. By working together, we’re not only saving money, but also building a stronger foundation for future regional success.”
Regional Council chair, Sophie Siers said the three councils were embracing shared regional services to deliver value for every ratepayer.
“This is one of the first major steps in a game-changing approach to combine quality and efficiency in shared services; exactly what our region deserves. A huge congratulations to the teams who have driven this plan forward. The savings we expect from this move will flow directly back to our communities,” she said.
Central Hawke’s Bay Mayor, Will Foley said the move was just the beginning of what regional Hawke’s Bay can look like.
“We’re all going to be working together to share services, create efficiencies and cut costs going forward,” he said.
For the past six years, Hastings District Council had provided server, storage, network, and technical support services to other Hawke’s Bay councils, including those involved in this project.
It said these long-standing partnerships had already delivered significant savings, improved resilience, and aligned technology standards across the region.
This project would build on that model and align with the Government’s direction for increased regional collaboration and local government reform, reinforcing Hawke’s Bay’s role as a leader in cooperative public service delivery.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chief information officer, Mike McGarvey, acknowledged Hastings’ leadership on the project.
“We look forward to collaborating with Hastings council on this initiative and feel sure it will strengthen our collective regional ICT capability,” he said.
