News Release

2 May 2013

Young Aucklanders making their voice heard on Unitary Plan

Auckland Mayor Len Brown says he is delighted with the level and quality of input from young Aucklanders in the council’s public engagement on the draft Unitary Plan.

“It’s right that all parts of our community have a say on the draft Unitary Plan, including the young Aucklanders who are the future of our city. Around 60 per cent of population growth it the next 30 years will come from our existing population – our kids, their kids and then their kids.”

“I’ve been impressed with how articulate and thoughtful much of the input from young Aucklanders has been. Overwhelmingly, young people have been a clear and positive voice in the discussion on the future of Auckland.

“They have been clear they support a balanced and well-planned approach to our city’s growth, that will protect our environment, help make our city more vibrant and dynamic, and deliver a greater range of housing choices.”

The Mayor acknowledged the work to date of Auckland’s Youth Advisory Panels, Auckland’s youngest councillor Michael Goudie and young Local Board members like Mangakiekie-Tamaki’s Chair Simon Randall, Kaipatiki’s Richard Hills and Devonport-Takapuna’s Joseph Bergin, as well as independent community groups like Generation Zero, for the role they have played in ensuring youth Aucklanders are part of the debate.

“The challenge now goes to other young Aucklanders who have to yet to contribute, to ensure their voice is heard as part of the current engagement process, which finishes the end of this month.

Auckland Council is engaging with a wide cross section of Aucklanders as part of public engagement on the Unitary Plan, including older people, youth, Pacific and ethnic communities, those with disabilities, mana whenua, business, environmental, property development, heritage and education groups.

Youth-oriented engagement events include:

• Unitary Plan Video Competition, targeting schools and other youth networks,
asking young people to envisage Auckland’s future, which attracted 37 entries and five finalists
• Youth road shows at AUT North Shore, MIT, Unitec and Massey University
• Youth Advisory Panel events at University of Auckland, Papakura and Manurewa
• Encouragement for young people to attend Civic Forums
• Engagement with youth at Polyfest
• Youth key focus of online housing simulator

On Monday, the Mayor is hosting a reception at the Auckland Town Hall for the entrants in the Unitary Plan Youth Video Competition, to thank them for their input and efforts.

Ends

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