Community survey results

The annual Chatham Islands residents survey ran again in July/August 2026. The survey runs every year and is important as a measure of how well Council is performing against our targets set out in the Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan.

The 2026 Chatham Islands Residents' Satisfaction survey received 26 responses, a similar number to the previous survey in 2025. 

While the sample size is small and findings should be interpreted with caution, results show improvements across most services when compared with last year. The strongest-performing areas were emergency preparedness, environmental services, and community services. 

Overall, results suggest that residents are recognising improvements in Council communication and transparency while continuing to identify infrastructure and service delivery challenges as priorities"

Top performing areas

• Emergency preparedness
  Most respondents considered themselves and their households prepared for an emergency event.
• Environmental services
  Satisfaction remains relatively strong, with several respondents specifically recognising pest management and environmental initiatives.
• Community services
  Satisfaction with community services remains positive overall, with many residents expressing satisfaction with parks, reserves, recreation facilities, and community support services.

Low performing areas

• Unsealed roads
  Gravel roads remain one of the lowest-scoring areas. Concerns focused on potholes, corrugations, grading frequency, dust, and vehicle damage.
• Waste management
  While staff were praised consistently, concerns remain around recycling outcomes, access to transfer stations, waste disposal options, and stockpiling.
• Water services
  Respondents connected to water schemes continue to report concerns regarding water quality, taste, storage, and long-term sustainability.

Notable changes from 2025

The survey was a very close replica to last year’s survey, making benchmarking quite straightforward. There are more areas that have increased in satisfaction than decreased. With the exception of water services and level of preparedness in an emergency, other categories increased, in most cases by at least 10%. 

Download the Chatham Islands Residents’ Satisfaction Survey Report 2026 [PDF, 229 KB]