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Council and citizen
One size does not fit all
All New Zealanders don’t participate in the same way. Business people can use their business associations to promote particular policies to target points of influence in the political system. People with disabilities have opportunities to speak in ways that work for them. People from different cultural backgrounds can find people who understand them and the mainstream system – and can translate words and concepts to help both sides hear each other. Māori people have rights under the Treaty of Waitangi, provisions in Acts of Parliament, and arrangements developed with local government to consult with the Crown. Some of these rights have been developed to improve Māori relations with local government. Ethnic minorities who have more recently migrated to New Zealand and local authorities who recognise one size does not fit all have developed channels of communication to enable them to hear each other.
Fostering participation
Recognising that participation is vital to a healthy democracy, the
New Zealand Local Government Toolkit for Child & Youth Participation
was developed for councils as a resource with practical examples and
advice to help them in their planning and services for children and young
people. This resource is a forum for sharing ideas, developing best practice
and encouraging creative ways to involve children and young people in
the decision-making process.
The ‘Using DecisionMaker’ training course has been trialled for
people assisting the settlement of migrants, and is in further development
for all New Zealanders.
Central government agencies, from the Department of Internal Affairs to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, have programmes to foster political participation.
Whatever our age or ability, we have a right to be heard by local government.
Former Minister of Local Government, Sandra Lee, told local government officials when the Local Government Act 2002 was progressing through Parliament that participation needs to be encouraged in local government.
" Hand in hand with governance must go consultation, through public
participation in the governance process … as a general rule, only
about half of all eligible voters participate in local body elections.
The challenge for everyone in the
local government sector is addressing how to make people aware of what you
do, what you propose to do on their behalf, and once aware, actually
get them to
participate in it."
