Organisations representing youth and the diverse ethnic communities of Albert-Eden have played their part in shaping the local board’s draft plan, currently open for feedback.
The Asian Network Incorporated (TANI) and the Albert Eden Youth Board are just two of the groups the local board partnered with to help inform its plan
TANI director Vishal Rishi says it is really important migrants and ethnic communities engage better with their local boards and councillors, participate in the processes and take up the opportunities to have a voice on the things that will impact and benefit their community.
“Only when people are actively engaged with the democratic process by clearly communicating our vision and needs can we shape our neighbourhoods and make our localities great places to live.”
The Asian Network Incorporated (TANI), an organisation that works with the Asian communities locally to improve their quality of life and well-being in Aotearoa, New Zealand is one of the organisations that engaged with the local board and Auckland Council staff through the planning process.
Chair of the Albert Eden Youth Board, Jared Lowyim is also encouraging young people to get involved.
“It would be great to have more young people ensure their voices are heard by making submissions during the formal consultation. This is important because it provides us the opportunity to shape the decisions made in our local community that affect us,” he says.
The group are advocates for Albert-Eden Youth, providing the board with advice and insights youth issues and aspirations in the Albert-Eden area. It gathered feedback from local students to help inform the plan.
Community views
During preparation of its draft plan, local board members and council staff met with a range of community organisations to ensure representation and to understand people’s diverse needs and priorities. This included schools, the Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Nga Maungarongo, local retirement villages and ethnic community groups to name a few.
Challenges
The draft plan was developed prior to the COVID-19 lockdown and the subsequent social and economic impacts are still being fully realised.
“We are having to make difficult decisions with reduced budgets over the next year. It is important to make sure we place the needs of our communities at the heart of our decision-making, and that we listen to what they have to say,” says local board chair Margi Watson.
Ways to have your say
The local board’s draft plan includes six proposed outcomes.
Go here to read the plan and to make an online submission and different ways to give your feedback.
You can also find details on meetings to provide feedback directly to board members, including an online webinar on 23 July, for which you need to register.
Submissions close on 13 August.
