Auckland Council’s six demographic advisory panels, with 60 members in total, have reached the end of their current term as champions for their specific communities.
Each of the council’s six advisory panels – Disability, Ethnic Communities, Pacific Peoples, Rainbow Communities, Seniors and Youth – have reflected on what’s gone well over the past three years and what more can be done to ensure important council decisions remain inclusive.
In an end of term overview, the panels share insight into what it’s like to advise the city’s Mayor, councillors and council staff on ‘big picture’ issues through a lens of lived experience to help form regional strategies, policies, plans and bylaws.
Through regular meetings every year, members gave feedback on significant topics like the Long-term Plan, Annual Budget, emergency response readiness, and regional transport plans, among others.
Mayor Wayne Brown has praised the effort from every panel member to understand many challenging topics and complex council processes.
“Our Advisory Panels play an important role in our democracy. They’re from communities across Tāmaki Makaurau who put their hand up for civic duty which is no easy feat given the ever-growing demand on people’s commitment and time. The leadership, collaboration and strong relationship built between panels and the council, provides a solid foundation for the future and new council, next term. They have made a difference,” Mayor Brown says.
Councillor Julie Fairey, Chief Liaison Councillor of the Advisory Panels, says panel members have contributed many hours of hard work to give their views, which has had a real impact on the decisions made.
Greg Morgan, Auckland Council's Principal Business Resilience, left, speaks with Disability Advisory Panel members Áine Kelly-Costello and co-chair Barry de Geest.
“Our diversity is what makes Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland unique and amazing. We have so much to learn from each other, and the advisory panels help that to happen for elected members and the council organisation. Our panels bring more Aucklanders into the important conversations about the future of our city,” Cr Fairey says.
“Cross-panel collaboration has been a significant win this term, helping to identify shared perspectives across the panels and how issues can impact on many diverse communities across the city in similar ways,” says Ms Wicks-Brown.
Seniors Advisory Panel member Susanne Tapsell, left, collaborates with Esther O'Donnell from the Youth Advisory Panel and Ashe Black, a Rainbow Communities Advisory Panel member.
Some panel highlights from their 2022-2025 term include:
For the Disability Advisory Panel
- Creation of a new Auckland Emergency Management disability sector inclusion programme to ensure disabled people aren’t left behind in emergencies.
- Making the council’s operational Disability Action Plan publicly available online, for the first time since its creation in 2015.Successfully promoting improved accessibility in City Rail Link station design.
- Guiding the council to prioritise making park and beach accessibility information easy to find online with both text-based information, and a map and search function.
For the Ethnic Communities Advisory Panel
- Improved strategic direction, greater transparency, and a renewed focus to embed diversity, equity and inclusion across the council. Working closely with NZ Police on retail crime and small business protection.
- Continued investment in cultural infrastructure and support for significant festivals like Diwali and the Lantern Festival, recognising their value in promoting cultural identity and driving economic activity.
For the Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel
- Working with Auckland Emergency Management to improve community readiness.
- Advising the council on important issues for Pacific people like climate change, civic engagement, equity and economic inclusion.
- Raising cultural awareness among council staff, supporting a Pacific Policy Toolkit.
For the Rainbow Communities Advisory Panel
- The council’s strong response to condemn attacks on rainbow identity after Karangahape Road’s rainbow crossing was vandalised and Auckland Pride Festival events disrupted.
- Strengthening engagement with rainbow communities with a focus on takatāpui, Pacific and Asian voices bringing together voices rarely heard in formal spaces.
- Working with economic development agency Auckland Tātaki Unlimited to secure funding for Auckland’s Rainbow Games.
- Recommendations for stronger internal council accountability relative to major events such as the Gay Games and the Rainbow Games, recognising the societal value associated with these events.
For the Seniors Advisory Panel
- Building on the work of the Age Friendly Auckland strategy in a city where it is forecast that residents aged over 65 years old will represent 19 per cent of the population in less than 20 years.
- Advocating for dedicated Age Friendly Auckland resources to work with the council, local boards, and the Age Friendly Auckland national office (Office for Seniors) to support the creation and completion of Age Friendly Auckland actions.
- Advocating for urgent and comprehensive action to address a looming crisis in senior housing. This included meeting with council planners to discuss senior housing needs including housing design, size, assisting seniors to age in place, and advocating for housing suitable for seniors located on bus routes, within walking distance of shops, community centres and public spaces.
For the Youth Advisory Panel
- Advocating to get more young people involved, engaged, and participating in local government processes.
- Helping develop the Thriving Rangatahi Plan, a comprehensive strategy designed to support young people across Tāmaki Makaurau.
- Working with Auckland Emergency Management to help build youth readiness and resilience.
The council first introduced its demographic advisory panels in 2011, after the amalgamation of Auckland councils in 2010. Following the October 2025 local elections, the new Mayor will decide whether to re-establish the panels for a new term from 2025-2028.
Aucklanders who are interested in finding out more and getting involved can email advisorypanels@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Panel members meet regularly to give advice to Auckland Council. From left to right is Leigh Featherstone, Seniors Advisory Panel and Evo Leota, Litiana Karika, Mirofora Taitu’uga from the Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel.
