Community backs local board plan with suggestions to further champion diversity and inclusion in Maungakiekie-Tāmaki.
After months of planning, discussion and consultation with residents and community groups of Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, the local board adopted its plan for 2023-2026.
Board Chair, Maria Meredith appreciates the feedback from local communities.
“We are very grateful to everyone who provided input as it ensures we’re headed in the right direction," says Chair Meredith.
The local board plan prioritises key outcomes which the board aim to deliver over the next three years. The city’s 21 local boards are required by law to produce a plan every three years.
“One of our key priorities is to support and meet the needs of our incredibly diverse community. And the feedback we received echoed these needs,” she says.
Key feedback themes for the board’s draft plan included the need to encourage sense of belonging, to continue fostering diversity and inclusion of cultures and to support community to run cultural and community events.
Chair Meredith says, “Our area has more Pasifika and Māori residents than the regional average, with strong presence of Tongan and Samoan communities. Our Asian community is also growing, with most of these residents being of Indian and Chinese descent.”
“With this in mind, we plan to explore opportunities to celebrate our diversity through community-led events, public art, sharing stories and connecting groups with one another,” she says.
Chair Meredith also acknowledges concerns for pollution in Tāmaki Estuary and the need to work with other local boards to protect waterways and biodiversity in the area.
“We appreciate this is an area of concern and we plan to investigate more opportunities for collaborative water quality projects with mana whenua and neighbouring local boards, including through the Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum and Manukau Harbour Forum,” she says.
“And we’ve heard our community’s suggestions to focus more on developing inclusive places and open spaces for people with disabilities; and to continue to advocate for a multi-sport hub at Mt Wellington War Memorial Park.
This is also included in the plan. The board’s aim is to consolidate resources between community services, such as libraries and community centres to provide accessible services that suit locals’ movements and needs.
Meredith adds, “Mount Wellington is growing faster than we expected and in response to that growth we are finalising a concept plan for Hamlin Park, which outlines opportunities to make this space more accessible and useable for community and sporting groups.”
“While the challenge is to achieve these goals with a reduced budget, we plan to work around this by leveraging our connections with external organisations and making better use of our assets in a cost-effective way,” she explains.
With the plan now final, the board will continue its work to achieve the goals and ensure desired outcomes are on track and will be delivered over the next three years.
Check out the plan here.
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