Ethnic voices at the decision makers' table ndf aug 2010 cc
1. A chinwag on experiences, learnings and insights Hosted by: AUCKLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT STAFF Monica Sharma, Team Leader, Cultural Wellbeing, Waitakere City Rina Tagore, Snr Policy Adviser, Wellbeing & Diversity, Manukau City NATIONAL DIVERSITY FORUM Christchurch Convention Centre 3.30 pm, 22 August 2010 Ethnic voices at the Decision Makers’ Table
Rina Tagore/DiversityForum-2010/Christchurch Royal Commission’s report on Auckland governance: The composition of Auckland’s local government does not reflect Auckland’s society. There is, for example, a predominance of older men and people of European descent in local government.
Rina Tagore/DiversityForum-2010/Christchurch Formal processes of engagement appear to have begun a decade ago. CC’s Intercultural Assembly triggered after a racial incident and Mayor’s initiative led to a multi-agency forum. Started in 2003 There was council funding and administrative support. Challenges after a period of time was about clarity of purpose and ways of making the forum and its activities, “community owned” WCC set up its Ethnic Forums in 2001, along side the position of Ethnic Advisor was also established. The Forums continue with attendance by the Mayor, CEO and Councillors. Challenges are around gaining commitment on action and response from council and again, ownership of the forums. Listening forums in HCC came about as an initiative of the then Minister of Ethnic Affairs to open dialogue with ethnic communities, and has turned into an annual feature. The programme is managed through inter-agency collaboration and a specialist staff position. In Waitakere, the ‘Ethnic Board’ was set up as an incorporated society and holds a partnership agreement and MOU with the current council. A shared work programme, standing items, rents its own office and has its separate election process. Manukau City opted not to set up a more permanent structure. (It had set-up a ‘Pacific Island Advisory Committee nearly two decades earlier, within its own structure; Formed task based reference groups for instance for developing its Settlement action plan.) In 2000 Auckland City held an Asian Forum, leading to support to an Asian network, which later changed into ‘The Asian Network Incorporated’, which went on to gain a contract from Ministry of Health and operates independent of council. Papakura and Franklin councils seek views of the ethnic communities by inviting ethnic community leaders.
Rina Tagore/DiversityForum-2010/Christchurch
Rina Tagore/DiversityForum-2010/Christchurch There are some useful pointers from two presentations made at the Diversity Forum last year, at the Local govt. session. Mike Reid, Manager Governance, Local Government New Zealand (Prospects for Greater Participation in the New worlds of local government reform) David Bromell, Victoria University (Diversity and Democracy)