For democracy to function, it requires engaged citizens – and politicians who listen to them. This year’s Annual Budget consultation is inviting residents to have their say on the issues that affect them. Across the region, genuine community engagement is already on the rise, and when, in 2017, the community in Manurewa asked the council to clean up their local beach, that’s exactly what happened.
Weymouth Beach in Manurewa was once considered one of Auckland’s filthiest. Its polluted waters had been deemed unswimmable for about 18 years, but in October last year it became one of four beaches in Manukau to have long-term public health warnings lifted. And that huge achievement can be put down in large part to a local community that kept asking its representatives to do something about it.
Community engagement motivates action
Since 2000, extensive work to correct and fix damaged waste and stormwater pipes has been undertaken, with the Manurewa Local Board, Watercare and Auckland Council leading the way. But engagement from the local community – including the younger generation – helped accelerate the project. Conversations led by the Manurewa Youth Council, a group of 26 people between the ages of 12 and 24 who are selected annually to reflect the diverse community, proved a key influence in making Weymouth Beach swimmable again. And for 21-yearold chair Damian Piilua, the process reinforced the strong relationship his organisation has with the Manurewa Local Board, which, like all of the 21 local boards across the region, is responsible for allocating funding to specific projects in its ward.
“In 2017, the Manurewa Youth Council was approached by Auckland Council to pilot a crowdsourcing platform called ‘All Our Ideas’, says Piilua. “We used it to ask young people what their biggest desires were for Manurewa. In three months, we collected more than 3000 responses. ‘Make Weymouth Beach clean, swimmable and accessible’ was the most popular answer.”
This has been a priority for the Manurewa Local Board and the community for a long time. And Piilua says the All Our Ideas campaign really just confirmed they were on the right track with prioritising it.
“We are confident they took into consideration the views of the youth and community,” he says.
“This is reflected in the local board plan, which highlights some of the feedback received through the platform.”
The 2018 Integrated Area Plan for Manurewa, Takanini and Papakura outlined the vision for these areas over the next 30 years, and consultation with the community played a key part in understanding their needs and the importance of addressing the issue of water safety within the area.
Genuine community engagement on the rise
This is just one example of what can be achieved when a community speaks up for what it wants. Across the region, genuine community engagement is on the rise. Last year, as part of the 10-year Budget/Auckland Plan consultation, more than 30,000 submissions were received.
Since the previous regional consultation, in 2015, the number of submissions from Māori communities doubled, those from Asian communities tripled, and online submissions rose from 27 per cent to 52 per cent.
Charged with providing input to the mayor and councillors on issues that are important to Aucklanders aged 14 to 24, Piilua’s work is crucial to get the youth engaged with decisions that may affect their future.
“It will always be a challenge to collect enough feedback that is truly representative of the youth population and while there was hesitation at first to get involved, simply because we had never heard of or used a crowdsourcing platform, we were also very aware that we were piloting the platform on behalf of the Community Empowerment Unit. That was a huge responsibility. To have this warning [against swimming] removed was a huge achievement and milestone for the community. The local board has proven they take the voices of young people and the community seriously.”
Empowering the community
It’s a significant win for the area and has opened the community’s eyes to the power of the collective voice.
“We’ve learnt there is a need for more investment into our waterways and harbours so they can keep up with the pressures and added demands of a developing city,” says Piilua. “There is also a need for local boards to be well supported and resourced so they can continue to improve their waterways and beaches.” Manurewa Youth Council chair Damian Piilua at Weymouth Beach.
Visit akhaveyoursay.nz to help shape Auckland. We’re currently consulting on our proposed 2019/2020 annual budget, transferring the ownership of some waterfront properties from Panuku Development Auckland to the council, and we’re discussing our water future. So visit akhaveyoursay.nz today – or call 09 301 0101 for more information.
Clean, healthy water is essential to our future. As our region continues to grow and change, we need to look after this precious taonga. Visit akhaveyoursay.nz to have your say on how we should waterproof our future. Feedback is open until 19 April. Read more about the Our Water Future: Auckland's water discussion on OurAuckland.
