
Challenge:
Waipā District Council serves a diverse urban and rural community of 62,000 residents in New Zealand's Waikato region with its fleet of 165 vehicles, an essential for its public service delivery. The Council required sustainability features to support evolving operational and environmental goals, particularly around electronic Road User Charges (RUC) and carbon emissions tracking. They required a future-proof solution that would enhance safety, streamline compliance, and improve fleet utilisation.
Teletrac Navman has proven itself as a future-focused partner. The technology is helping us drive safely, efficiently, and sustainably in everything we do—and that’s exactly what we continue to need as a modern council.
- Claire Vincent, Fleet and Travel Coordinator
Solution:
In mid-2023, Waipā District Council selected Teletrac Navman after a competitive tender process. The key attractions included Teletrac Navman’s real-time GPS tracking, advanced reporting via TN360 insights, and Teletrac Navman’s RUC manager – a solution that streamlines workflow and claims for accurate RUC licence purposes. For the first time, the Council extended telematics across all asset types, including mowers and tractors, as a strategic move not only for operational insight but also for theft prevention, fuel efficiency, and safety.
The Council became the first in New Zealand to fully integrate Teletrac Navman with the vehicle booking platform Orcoda, enabling automated scheduling, streamlined resource allocation, reduced vehicle downtime, and improved operational efficiency. This integration supports data-driven decision-making by providing insights into fleet performance, utilisation trends, and environmental impact. By digitising the booking process, Waipā can reduce administrative overheads and ensure staff have access to the right vehicles at the right time. The insights available through Teletrac Navman’s TN360 platform offer customisable, real-time reporting on driver behaviour, fleet utilisation, idling, and trip analysis, which is particularly essential for a fleet of lone workers and vehicles operating in remote and diverse environments.
To further enhance their fleet management, Waipā DC uses Teletrac Navman’s MT501 in-cab units, which are uniquely portable and removable from their cradles. This flexibility allows field staff to conduct pre-start inspections or quarterly checks by walking around vehicles, significantly improving asset management—especially for off-road or agricultural vehicles such as tractors and mowers.
Previously, Waipā District Council manually handled Road User Charges (RUC), a time-consuming and error-prone process that has now been eliminated through the shift to electronic RUCs via Teletrac Navman. This is achieved using second-by-second tracking devices and electronic distance recorders that display licences on vehicles.
Results:
After a swift installation and implementation period, the full fleet rollout for Waipā District Council was completed on schedule, and the business has seen the following benefits since:
- Streamlined RUC workflow and carbon emissions reporting.
- Enhanced visibility and data-driven insights into fleet performance.
- Improved operational efficiency and vehicle utilisation.
- Reduced downtime and administrative overheads.
- Strengthened local support and faster unit replacements through trusted local installers.
About Waipā District Council:
Waipā District Council is a progressive local government body located in the Waikato region of New Zealand. It supports a population of 62,000 residents across a mix of urban and rural areas. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and community service, the Council manages a complex fleet of vehicles and machinery critical to maintaining local infrastructure and public amenities.