Waikato Information Forum (WINFO)
Established
1996
Participants
Environment Waikato; representatives of 11 territorial authorities [Hamilton City Council, Hauraki, Franklin, Matamata Piako, Rotorua, South Waikato, Waitomo, Otorohonga, Taupo, Thames Coromandel, Waikato and Waipa district councils]. Representatives from Environment Bay of Plenty, the Waikato District Health Board and Ministry for the Environment also regularly attend.
Purpose
WINFO was initially established to bulk purchase aerial photographs of the Waikato Region. The forum has since been redefined to broaden its scope with the overall aim of effective information sharing, integrated monitoring and reporting.
Resources Available
Metadata template; partnership agreement template (EW to TLAs); working examples of MfE/EW/TLA information sharing and monitoring. Inventory of: EW datasets that are of potential interest to TLAs; TLA datasets that are of potential interest to EW (ie. information available from some WINFO members).
Datasets/Indicators
EW datasets of potential interest to TLAs
Regional Economic Model (EcoLink Database); Perception Survey; Community participation (Environmental Education Database); Ambient Air Quality; Groundwater Quality; Regional Water Quality network; Riparian Database; Erosion (vulnerability); Land Cover Database (LCDB); Flooding; Land Transport Database (AES); Consent databases; Selected Land use Database; Indigenous Vegetation Inventory; Biosecurity databases (Plant and Animal Pests); Coastal Water Quality; Geothermal Features; Consents Database (RUAMS).
TLA datasets that are of potential interest to EW
Consents Database; Census data and economic statistics; Resident& Ratepayer Surveys; Complaints; Land use/ zoning; Air Quality; Amenity and Heritage; Cultural Heritage; Natural Areas; Animal Control; Solid Waste & Hazardous Substances; Natural Hazards; Public Access; Land Transport; Water Supply and Wastewater; Public Health and Safety; Energy; Governance.
Comments
Have made good progress on some initiatives. Large number of local authorities can however make progress on a region wide basis more difficult (different stages of policy development, varying levels of resources and commitment to monitoring, staff turn-over, etc). Have found that working with a smaller number of local authorities on specific issues can produce outputs in a more timely fashion. Having two TLAs partly within other regions (Franklin and Rotorua) can also present consistency and resource issues for participation by those TLAs.
Meeting Intervals
6 monthly.
Contact
(07) 856 7184; Beat Huser.
