Submission numbers tell only part of the story, South Auckland local boards say

As Auckland Council's consultation on its draft Local Board Plans closes today, South Auckland local board leaders say formal submission numbers tell only part of the story of community engagement.

They say community priorities are shaped through months of conversations with residents at schools, libraries, churches, community organisations and local events before formal consultation begins.

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chair Kaea Walter Inoke-Togiamua said the community's response had been encouraging, even beyond the number of formal submissions.

"The response so far has shown how much our community cares about the future of Māngere-Ōtāhuhu. It's been great to hear from families, young people, seniors, and our diverse communities about the things that affect their everyday lives."

"The number of submissions is positive, but what's been even more encouraging is the pride people have in their neighbourhood and their desire to see better outcomes for their whānau," he said.

"The Local Board Plan sets our direction for the next three years. It guides the decisions we make in Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, the priorities we focus on and helps keep us accountable to our community.

Auckland's 21 local board areas were established as part of the Super City reforms in 2010 and are responsible for making decisions on local parks, community facilities, libraries and neighbourhood priorities. Photo/Auckland Council.

"The stronger the community voice, the stronger the plan."

The issue gained attention after the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board highlighted the relatively low number of formal submissions earlier this week while encouraging more residents to participate before today's deadline.

However, Auckland Council General Manager Governance and Engagement Lou-Ann Ballantyne said formal submissions were only one part of the council's engagement with communities.

Chairs of four South Auckland local boards say community engagement extends well beyond formal consultation submissions. Pictured (from left) are Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chair Walter Inoke-Togiamua, Papakura Local Board chair Kelvin Hieatt, Franklin Local Board chair Alan Cole, and Manurewa Local Board chair Heather Andrew. Photo/PMN News Composite.

"It's great to see more submissions for this round of Local Board Plans consultation than in 2023," Ballantyne said.

"I'm delighted to see South Auckland communities having their say on the draft Local Board Plans in this consultation round. Our engagement has been well supported by our local board teams, Auckland Council libraries and service centres, our community partners and the wider public.

"That said, we always want to hear more from the public. Local Board Plans set the direction for local decision-making in local areas for the next three years. We need to hear from local communities on what matters most to them."

Auckland Council said early engagement with communities before formal consultation helped shape the draft Local Board Plans released for public feedback.

The same view was echoed by other South Auckland board chairs.

Manurewa chair Heather Andrew said "feedback forms tell only part of the story", with community conversations continuing before and during consultation.

Papakura chair Kelvin Hieatt said submissions were "only one way people share their views", while Franklin chair Alan Cole said engagement at community events provided "a deeper understanding of what matters most to local people".

Dr Helena Cook, a University of Canterbury lecturer whose research focuses on Pacific civic engagement, said formal consultation processes did not always reflect how Pacific communities participated in democracy.

"Political engagement in New Zealand is traditionally designed around individual written submissions, rather than maybe the more collective discussion and deliberation a lot of Pasifika communities would engage with," Cook said.

She said Pacific communities often discussed local issues through churches, family networks and community organisations before expressing their views publicly.

"Political engagement needs to also be about institutions and decision-makers coming to community, not just expecting that community will come to them."

Inoke-Togiamua encouraged residents who had not yet participated to make a submission before consultation closed.

"We know people are busy, and we also recognise there's been a lot of consultation happening recently.

"If you've been thinking about making a submission, we'd encourage you to take a few minutes to have your say. This plan will guide our priorities for the next three years, so your feedback is one of the ways you can help shape the future of Māngere-Ōtāhuhu - and it's also how you can hold us accountable for what we deliver."

Local boards will consider public feedback before adopting their final Local Board Plans later this year.

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