OurAuckland has a chat to Diana, a 26-year-old from the North Shore and a member of Auckland Council's People's Panel, about shaping her city.
When did you first sign up to People's Panel?
I signed up at the end of last year. I was on the Auckland Council website looking for dog-friendly beaches and I noticed a banner for the People's Panel, so I decided to join.
What made you want to join the People's Panel?
It's an opportunity to have an opinion about important matters. I think that Aucklanders very much like to complain about things. It’s one thing to complain about it, but if you’re given the chance to do something about it and express your opinions you should also do that.
What sort of surveys are you interested in?
The things that interest me the most include our transport, and the homelessness issue is really important to me.
And I’m interested in the debate around dogs on beaches. So many people have dogs that we need to find a way to exist together as a community.
I also did a survey about the budget and I didn’t know much about it, but [by taking the survey] I had a good reason to look into it.
Why do you think others should join the People’s Panel?
It’s really important, especially for younger people to get involved. I think it’s really important to be involved because not only do you have a chance to be involved when you do a survey once a month, it also means you are more informed. And that affects our day-to-day conversations with everyone else in our society.
Auckland is growing quickly and we’re only going to get better if people start getting involved.
