Whakatāne District Council is now using Antenno, a free app that helps residents stay informed and report issues directly to the council from their mobile device.

Used by councils across New Zealand, including Ōpōtiki District Council, Antenno allows people to report issues such as potholes, broken streetlights and missed rubbish collections. It also provides location-based council updates including road closures, water outages, weather alerts and other important information.

People and partnerships general manager Emlyn Hatch said Antenno would enhance how the council communicated with its communities.

“We’re pleased to be offering Antenno as an additional channel for staying informed and reporting issues,” Mr Hatch said.

“It’s widely used by many councils and supports more timely and relevant communication.”

“Antenno makes it easier for people to get the information that matters to them and provide feedback on local issues as they arise. It’s about improving connection and strengthening communication between the council and residents.”

Mr Hatch said Antenno complemented existing council communication channels rather than replaced them.

“With most people carrying a mobile phone, this reflects the way people expect to receive and share information – quickly and directly,” he said. “For example, if someone is out walking and notices a broken or uneven footpath, they can take a photo and report it to the council on the spot.”

Antenno is available to download for free from the App Store and Google Play. Once installed, users can select the locations they want to follow to receive relevant updates.

The app does not track user location and does not require personal details to receive notifications. Users have full control over the areas they follow and the updates they receive. Contact details are optional and only needed if a user wants updates on a report they submit.

Antenno reports are monitored during business hours. For urgent issues, residents should contact the Council’s Customer Services team (24/7) on 07 306 0500.