Media Release
24 March 2009

Manukau winners at Best Practice Awards ceremony

Manukau’s community boards took out the top prize for their community advocacy plans at the Best Practice Awards 2009.

The community advocacy plans won the Partnership category and the Supreme Award at the ceremony held during the national community board conference in Christchurch on Thursday 19 March.

Manukau mayor Len Brown congratulates all community boards for their success at the award ceremony.

“All of the community boards were keen to develop an advocacy plan that reflects the vision and aspirations of each community.

“The main aim of the community advocacy plans was to enhance the working relationship between the community boards, the council and the community. It was also seen as a way to promote democracy, and support the key role of the community boards to advocate effectively for their communities.”

Democratic Services ward co-ordinator John Skelton has also been recognised for 20 years service to the community boards since their inception in 1989.

“It’s fantastic to see that John’s service to the community boards, particularly Howick, Papatoetoe and Pakuranga, was acknowledged at this ceremony,” says Warwick McNaughton, Manukau City Council’s Democratic Services manager.

Each Manukau community board has now adopted an advocacy plan. For the award submission the plans for Clevedon, Howick, Mangere and Otara were presented to the judges as a representative sample of the eight community advocacy plans.

The four community advocacy plans can be accessed from the council’s website at www.manukau.govt.nz/default.aspx?id=114 and over the next month all eight will be made available.

ENDS

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