Waitaki ratepayers will soon be able to access their property information online.

Over the next 12 to 18 months, every page of about 13,000 property files will be scanned and turned into digital files by the Waitaki District Council digital services team and Canon Business Services, a council spokesperson says.

The move to digitalise the files is part of the council’s transformation programme, to make it easier for people to access their property files and for the council to manage them.

Council chief executive Alex Parmley says the digitalisation of the property files is one small part of the changes being made.

“Our transformation programme has many parts to it which we will be sharing over the coming weeks and months.

“[It] shows how we are using technology to both improve our levels of customer service and increase our efficiency to provide better value for ratepayers,” he says.

“I am looking forward to sharing more changes and improvements as we progress.”

A pilot digitalising 500 property files will take place initially, and people can visit the Waitaki District Council webpage to see which files are part of this pilot. Property File Digitisation | Waitaki District Council

Physical files will be temporarily unavailable for viewing at the council office, but only while they are being sent to Canon. Once digitalised, they will be available on request, so the community can access them quickly, the council spokesperson says.

Digitalisation comes with three major benefits: The files can be accessed more easily and quickly, records are easier to protect and keep safe, and it ensures records are maintained for years to come.

For now, if you want to see property files, you will still need to contact the council to request them.

Making the property files available for on-demand viewing is part of the council's aim to enhance customer experience by increasing self-service options, improving efficiency and providing the public with 24/7 access to information, the spokesperson says.