Local Community Boards excel at New Plymouth conference

Christchurch Community Boards proved themselves among the best in the country at this weekend’s New Zealand Community Boards Conference in New Plymouth.

The Christchurch Boards walked away with two out of four inaugural Community Board Best Practice Awards and two of the four Highly Commended placings. New Plymouth MP Harry Duynhoven and Dean Finton from sponsor, Powerco presented the Awards at the Plymouth Hotel on Saturday night (14 June).

Shirley/Papanui Community Board was most successful among the Christchurch Boards, winning the Supreme Award in the Significant Project Category for its 40 year vision for the Styx River and Highly Commended in the Facilitation Category for initiating and encouraging Neighbourhood Week.

Burwood/Pegasus Community Board won the Supreme Award in the Facilitation Category for its Project Employment Environmental Enhancement Programme (PEEEP), which works to improve the environment and assist jobseekers.

A project aimed at upgrading Linwood Park won the Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board Highly Commended in the Awards’ Consultation Category.

Presentations made by the Boards were each judged in one of four categories that included; Facilitation; Consultation; Significant Project and; Partnership. A Grand Winner Award was also presented to Raglan Community Board for its community consultation around the development of a $2 million community facility.

Shirley/Papanui Community Board chairperson Yvonne Palmer said she was absolutely delighted with her Board’s success. “To win two awards from the four presentations that we made was just superb. It makes me proud to think that Shirley/Papanui is one of the leading Boards in the country.”

Burwood/Pegasus Community Board’s Award recognised the foresight of the Board and the value of the PEEEPS programme, said Cr Carole Evans, a Burwood/Pegasus Community Board member, who attended the conference.

Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board chairperson Bob Todd said his Board’s placing was “real recognition of a process that worked well. Much of the credit for it must go to the advocacy team in putting together the project and submitting the nomination.”

Mrs Palmer who is also chairperson of the New Zealand Community Boards Executive Committee said the Best Practice Awards were initiated by the New Plymouth Community Boards and were hoped to be presented every two years.

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