14 December 2005

Plans for Pacific advisory board move forward

Pacific Islands communities in Auckland city moved closer to securing a structure to enable them to be more involved in the decisions that council makes today.

Auckland City Council's Partnerships Committee today endorsed the implementation of a Pacific peoples' participation policy and agreed to recommend that the council establish an advisory board for Pacific Islands people. This recommendation will be discussed and voted on at a council meeting in early 2006.

The development of the participation policy, has involved members of the Pacific Islands community and is now at a significantly advanced stage. This process has identified specific initiatives and ways of working that will improve the council's engagement with the city's Pacific peoples and increase their participation in civic activities.

The advisory board would be made up of elected and appointed representatives from the Pacific Islands community and will provide a voice for the community to the council.

Councillor John Hinchcliff, chairperson of the Partnerships Committee says he is delighted with the strong support for establishing the advisory board.

"The recommendation to establish an advisory board has been discussed and debated thoroughly with the community, and we believe that it will be the best way to achieve the objectives of the participation policy by providing Pacific peoples with significant access to the council," he said.

"I send the recommendation for an advisory board to the council with the unanimous support of this committee."

Pacific communities make up nearly 14 per cent of Auckland city's population but there is currently only one Pasifika person on one community board. The communities do not traditionally participate in, and therefore do not as yet have significant influence on Auckland City's decision-making process.

ENDS

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