New Features Make Council Website Easier to Use

We've refreshed Council's  website to make it more user-friendly and accessible, with renamed menus, improved search tools, and a new A–Z feature based on community feedback. The changes aim to help users find information more easily, even if they're unfamiliar with Council services.

Visitors to the Council website may notice some fresh new features designed to make the site more user-friendly and accessible.

Following a recent content refresh, Council engaged with a broad cross-section of the community to better understand how people interact with the website and the kinds of information they typically search for. This valuable feedback has helped shape a more intuitive and streamlined experience.

One of the most notable changes is the improved layout and navigation. While the main search bar remains prominently at the top of the homepage, users now also have access to a helpful ‘A to Z’ index. This feature allows you to browse topics alphabetically and quickly see all related pages. For example, searching under "B" brings up results like Building, Building a fence, Building consents, Building forms, Building inspections, and Building services fees—all in one place without needing to click through multiple submenus.

Menu items at the top of the page have also been renamed and reorganised to better reflect how users find information.  While the quick links are generated based on what users are most often looking for, helping to reduce the time spent searching for information.

As more people rely on digital platforms for essential services, it’s increasingly important that online information is not only easy to find but also presented in a way that makes sense—even to those unfamiliar with Council operations or local government terminology.

The MDC website now has an A-Z search, updated quick links, and revised menus.