Buller District Council adopts new approach to keep local community informed and connected

Buller District Council is excited to announce a new approach to delivering important updates and good news stories to residents across the district.

Starting 20 November, council information, meeting dates, and announcements will be featured in a dedicated one to two-page monthly spread in the West Coast Messenger, a widely distributed free publication available throughout Buller and across the wider West Coast.

This change means that council updates will now reach more people in more places, with the Messenger being delivered and accessible in various locations across the district, including Reefton and surrounding rural communities.

The council's monthly spread will cover everything from council news and announcements to community stories, updates on projects that matter to residents, and monthly meeting dates.

“We’re thrilled to be moving to a more accessible, inclusive model for sharing our updates,” says Chief Executive Officer Simon Pickford.

“With the Messenger being free and available at so many locations, we’re ensuring that everyone has access to our information, without any barriers. It’s a great step forward in keeping our community connected and informed.”

This new monthly spread will supersede the council's popular Connect newsletter, but retain its branding, supporting the council’s commitment to transparency and community engagement.

Urgent statutory notices will still appear in the Westport News, ensuring residents continue to receive critical updates as needed.

Buller District Council looks forward to sharing this new way of informing residents. It is part of a wider initiative to make council’s communications more approachable and accessible for a wider audience, with another recent development being the rollout of the Let’s talk Buller engagement platform.

For the latest council updates and local stories, pick up a copy of the Messenger, visit our website, or subscribe online to receive monthly updates by email.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
Community Engagement Team
Buller District Council
media.enquiries@bdc.govt.nz