Consultation fatigue? South Auckland leaders urge community to get involved and speak up

Questions are being raised about whether enough South Aucklanders are having a say on their community as consultation draws to a close for a key planning document.

On Monday, an Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board social media post said just 27 people had made a submission on Auckland Council's draft Local Board Plans, with consultation closing tomorrow [Thursday].

The plans will guide local priorities and investment on parks, community facilities, youth programmes, environmental projects and neighbourhood improvements over the next three years.

In a Facebook post on Monday, the board thanked the 27 people who had made submissions on the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board Plan while urging more than 79,000 other residents in the local board area to have their say.

Apulu Reece Autagavaia, Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board chair, said since the board's post, submissions had increased.

A number of factors contributed to the low submissions and it didn't mean people did not care about their neighbourhoods, he said.

"We know people are busy, there are many competing demands on our people's time.

"The last two weeks were school holidays, our local board has been on recess, and consultation fatigue is something communities are experiencing across many different issues."

Apulu said it had been encouraging to see the community come together online and say, 'we can do better'.

"We want to hear their ideas, experiences and aspirations because when our community speaks up together, we can help shape the future we want to see."

A child enjoys the splash pad at the Ōtāhuhu Pool and Leisure Centre. Local board plans help guide investment in community facilities, parks and recreation spaces over the next three years. Photo/Auckland Council

Dr Helena Cook, a University of Canterbury lecturer who researches how Pacific young people understand and engage with politics, said low participation should not simply be viewed as public apathy.

"There can be structural barriers that make it difficult for people to engage," she said.

Cook said time pressures, competing priorities, limited civic education and a lack of trust that institutions would respond to community feedback could all influence whether people participated in formal consultation.

Participation should not be seen solely through the lens of online submissions, particularly for Māori and Pacific communities where discussion, relationships and collective decision-making often played a significant role in civic life, she said.

While local board chairs said participation remained low relative to the size of their communities, Auckland Council said overall submissions were tracking ahead of the equivalent stage of the 2023 Local Board Plan consultation.

Lou-Ann Ballantyne, Auckland Council General Manager Governance and Engagement, said the council had received 3,187 submissions by 20 July, compared with 1,327 submissions at the same stage of the 2023 Local Board Plan consultation.

South Auckland local board chairs urged residents to participate.

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chair Kaea Walter Inoke-Togiamua said failing to hear from a broad cross-section of the community risked leaving the board without a full understanding of local priorities.

"The more perspectives we receive, the better informed our decisions will be and the more our Local Board Plan will reflect the community we serve," he said.

Auckland Council libraries are among the local services that Local Board Plans help shape over the next three years. Photo/Auckland Council

Manurewa Local Board chair Heather Andrew said making a submission was the best way to ensure your views are considered as part of the decision-making process.

Papakura Local Board chair Kelvin Hieatt encouraged residents to see the consultation as an opportunity to shape their community.

"It's your plan. We want to hear what you love about Papakura, what's working well, and where you think we should focus our efforts over the next three years," he said.

Franklin Local Board chair Alan Cole said residents who wanted to see something different should speak up before consultation closed.

With consultation closing on Thursday, Apulu said residents still had time to influence the priorities that would guide local board decisions over the next three years.

"We understand that many people may feel tired of being asked to provide feedback, and consultation fatigue is a genuine experience.

"But we also hear our community saying that they want change or we could do something better. This is that chance.

"This is an opportunity for residents to directly influence the priorities that will shape their communities over the next three years."

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.