Thank for your invitation and having me at your Community Hui

Yesterday I was at Avondale as part of a five person strong panel talking to the community about challenges Avondale faces. I was the only non-local speaking (being from Southern Auckland) at the hui so I was deeply humbled for the invitation.

I had no speaking notes so I was speaking straight off the cuff on not only the challenges Avondale faces but also the things Avondale has like its strong sense of community (I certainly got that impression on my walk through yesterday before the Hui).

The three main points I covered were:

1. The Public Participation Spectrum (see below for the PDF that can be downloaded and distributed) and how while all are useful we do need more “Collaboration” and less “Consulting”
2. Public Authorities are obliged to Listen but not Listen. By law Council, Government, and the bureaucracies are meant to listen to concerns and ideas we raise. However, and this is the controversial one they are not obliged to listen insofar as action what we say. Remembering there are limitations to democracy and democracy is a contest of ideas. So there is you and 1.5 million other ideas out there the authorities need to consider. Also a big limitation is always money.
3. Avondale have come to the halfway point on community development implementation. It is now for Council and other authorities to do the same. With that point and to tie up the other two points I stressed the need for both “picking battles” and not shrieking. In picking battles comes patience and something Avondale has done. Shrieking that we see from certain quarters in the east not only puts off the authorities but the community as well. And when that happens you have lost the war entirely.

The question time was good and to be honest felt a bit odd being asked the questions rather than the usual asking the questions. That said I hoped I answered your questions well for those who attended.

So as I finish this post up I would like to extend my thanks to Jaclyn who chaired, was one of the organisers and who invited me to the Hui. It was really great to be there and I know I had a good time being there as well. 😀

Reference Material

IAP2 on Public Participation

Parramatta (Mentioned in balanced investment in Australia compared to by Auckland Council especially when it comes to keeping our best and brightest here)

Parramatta Evolving to Become Sydney’s Second CBD. Hint to Auckland Council on Manukau City Centre