The mission statement of the Whakatane District Council is “To identify and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people of the district by providing the environment, facilities and services to meet them, within resources available”.

The Whakatane District Council undertakes a number of functions, responsibilities and activities to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of its residents for the present and the future. To this end, the Council currently carries out the following roles:

• Constructing, managing and maintaining local infrastructure on behalf of the community. This infrastructure includes: roads, water supply, sewage disposal, refuse collection and disposal, land and storm water drainage.
• Providing and maintaining community facilities and assets as required by the district’s residents. Presently the community facilities provided by the Council include parks and gardens, recreation programmes, libraries, community halls, museum, cemeteries, swimming pools, public conveniences airport and harbour.
• Planning for the future needs of the district.
• Managing the environment for present and future residents.
• Undertaking a regulatory role to ensure that residents have a safe, desirable and healthy environment in which to reside.
• Advocacy on behalf of the local community with central government, other local authorities and other agencies.
• Promoting and facilitating development of the district that is to the benefit of the residents, and providing a comprehensive information service.