Stimulus/Rationale:
When proposing a change, Auckland Council partners with appropriate community organisations to engage with the communities affected. In 2017, the Council included the communities of South Auckland in an 'integrated area plan' to prepare for future development in the area.
A key objective of this engagement strategy was to challenge the norm of community engagement and create effective ways to reach out to different ethnicities, age groups and communities in the area that typically do not engage or participate in a council-lead planning process. It was important to design the consultation and engagement process to ensure that the views of Māori, Pacifica, other emerging ethnicities and young people were incorporated to help shape the long-term vision and future of these areas. The people engaged in the plan were to reflect the demographic profile of the area.
Process:
The engagement strategy included: Gathering feedback at local community events, shopping malls, train stations and other hubs; Utilising an ‘All Our Ideas’ web platform (championed by a local youth council); Running public workshop sessions (world-cafe style).
Impact:
The Council received over 5000 pieces of feedback from the community, of which more than a third were submitted by Māori residents and half from people aged below 34 years. This closely matched the ethnic and age profile of the area.
The result was a plan outlining the urban vision for the area over the next 30 years. It was developed collaboratively by the council’s Plans and Places Department, Arts Community and Events Department, and The Southern Initiative on behalf of both the Manurewa and Papakura Local Boards, using an empowered community approach. It was built with the support, advice and direction from local residents, community-based interest groups, and partners and stakeholders in Manurewa, Takanini and Papakura.
Key reference documents: Manurewa, Takanini, Papakura, Integrated Area Plan 2018
