Diverse Voices

Auckland, the most diverse city in New Zealand, recently experienced historic governance change, resulting in a single unitary authority. The greater Auckland region now has a single governance structure comprising a single Mayor, a Governing Body of 21 Councillors and 21 Local Boards made up of a total of 145 elected members.  Auckland, at nearly 1.4 million people, has a strong Maori heritage, a strong Pacific identity and increasingly an Asian identity. Our people’s growing ethno-cultural diversity now comprises more than 150 ethnicities.

The Local Government Act (2009) established an independent Maori Board and two Advisory Panels for Pacific and Ethnic Peoples. In addition, Mayor Len Brown has established a disability strategic advisory group, a foundation youth advisory panel, as well as a rural and a business advisory panel.

This session will be a chance to hear about Auckland’s progress in its journey along a new local authority governance path; discuss the emerging co-governance model; and discuss the implications of Auckland’s governance changes on retaining and valuing diverse voices.

A panel presentation will set the scene, followed by an open group discussion:

  • Auckland: Same, yet different – demographics, governance structure
  • Advisory Panels (purpose, who, areas of interest, challenges and opportunities in integrating perspectives of Pacific and ethnic peoples)
  • The Auckland Plan and other strategies – embedding and responding to diversity through the planning process
  • Delivering services to diverse communities; pathways for engagement.

This session will appeal to local and central government staff; NGO and community sector; all those looking to engage with Auckland Council

Date: Monday 22 August
Time: 1.00pm-3.30pm
Hosted by: Auckland Council

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