Pacific citizens: Though 50 years ago there was not much contact ...

Pacific Cooperation Foundation: Just as the Asia 2000 Foundation was ...

Tackling Pacific Island problems from within the Parliament: Strategic thinking about ...

The agenda: THEN: Social issues were important ...

Improving partnership: There is a need to revive the Pacific Islands ...

Tackling blindness among Pacific peoples: Tongan public health specialist ...

HIV AIDS - moral and medical solutions: Public health and other policy planners...

Tongan job solution: Managed employment is a Tongan New Zealander's private ...

The new tertiary landscape - what's in it for Pacific peoples?: Education is ...

Making good citizens: In our Pacific region, and elsewhere in the world ...

Involving Pacific peoples in local decisionmaking: The question all New Zealand ...

Tangata Pasifika? Michael Powles, who has worked ...

Endorsing good governance: Former New Zealand career diplomat Gordon Schroff ...

Need not be conflict: Issues in Pacific governance - where one size does not ...

Cooperation wins: Greater regional cooperation on common issues might ...

APEC and PECC: Though New Zealand seeks to be a good international ...

Advocacy on market access: The Pacific Islands Trade and Investment ...

Being Pa'alagi: The Being Pa'alagi programme, in which I looked back ...

Collaboration key to achieving vision: The vision of the Ministry of ...

Talk to all pacific cultures with one voice:
Ethnic Communications

Involving Pacific people in local decision-making

The question all New Zealand territorial local authorities face is how to attract participation from individuals or families in the development of the communities they live in so as to benefit the society of which they are a part – including Pacific peoples.

With the advent of the New Zealand Local Government Act, December 2003, much time has been spent on what effect the increased consultation obligations under the Act will mean to territorial local authority (TLA) decision-making.

This is by no means a bolt out of the blue for councils of all types. As central government devolves responsibility, TLAs are finding themselves having to manage community development issues such as community safety, truancy and, in some cases, the health of their residents. Such issues affect the general well-being of the communities they represent in ways individual to each community.

To play an effective role, TLAs are undertaking greater levels of consultation within their communities to identify the priorities.

Unlike central government, the local government decision-making processes are based on consensus among its representatives. This places responsibility on those representatives to ensure they have a closer relationship with current public opinion; thus participation by ratepayers and residents is welcomed.
This environment is driven by the democratic principle of one person – one vote, the right of the individual to have their say on what they want for their community. Of course, this leads to compromise to meet the needs of the majority, but to enjoy the fruits of the compromise individuals must participate.

Population change

New Zealand has recently been faced with the prediction that in less than 50 years its population will be dominated by those of Māori and Pacific Island lineage. There is no issue with a prediction, in fact, some councils experience this demographic already. The growing concern is how these communities participate in a decision-making process designed for the individual voice.
Much resource has been spent on recognising the unique social and cultural needs of the Tangata Whenua in this process, to the benefit of all involved, but what of the rapidly growing Pacific Island communities?

Most councils currently experience relatively low levels of participation, with select groups of concerned citizens dominating the decision-making process. Once again, there is no problem with this – they have the right, a right fiercely defended by the councils themselves.

For years, councils have been dealing with community and church leaders who have represented their communities. While their roles have been valuable they may have hidden the true strength in numbers when choices have had to be made about how their communities have been shaped. No-one is disputing the communal nature of their societies or their benefits, but New Zealand is governed differently.

Big question

The big question councils face is how to get through to their people and promote participation.

There has not been a great hue and cry about not being consulted. Councils are aware they face great risk if they simply assume that no voice is a vote for the status quo.

However, they will also face a risk to the success of their initiatives if they are not meeting the needs of the individuals. With so much at stake it would be risky to take the voice of a few as the final word.

There is an inherent obligation in the increased consultation; residents and ratepayers will participate. Councils must talk to their audiences but to maintain the higher level of consultation and justify the expenditure people have to respond.

Residents and ratepayers, not just Pacific Island peoples, should understand that councils have a far greater impact on their daily lives than central government – and this can only increase. Their ability to be informed and involved has also increased. In order to be a bene­ficiary of council initiatives and not remain a victim of the consequences of misdirected or unsuccessful initiatives, they have an obligation to participate in the decision-making process.

Published 3rd qtr, 2003

Residents and ratepayers will participate ... people have to respond

Affiliated programs Sitemap Privacy Accessibility Terms of use

Search powered by

Copyright © 2006 Asia Pacific Economic News Ltd. All rights reserved. Users of the Guide are free to make copies or entire pages for personal or educational use, but not for commercial purposes. Copies of individual photos or ilustrations may not be made without the permission of the copyright holders. Use of this website signifies your agreement to the Terms of Use.