Ashburton looks ahead to long term plan consultation
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Criticism of consultation methods are being considered ahead of one of the biggest engagement processes for Ashburton District Council: the long-term plan.
Considering how to engage with the community is almost as important as what is consulting on, democracy and engagement group manager Toni Durham (pictured) said.
“It’s a consistent challenge and focus for us to ensure that people are engaged throughout the community.
“We are reviewing ways to improve this, despite the resourcing constraints we have.”
The council’s approach to consultation came under fire during the recent economic development strategy (EDS).
Several submitters suggesting that the draft EDS lacked cultural diversity and was light on business responses, considering it was an economic strategy.
Some submissions also questioned if there had been enough engagement before the draft was produced.
The EDS draft was formed with input from businesses and groups that were engaged in the process through a series of workshops and conversations since 2021, Durham said.
“These stakeholders helped to form the intent and action points in the draft document.”
What wasn’t clear in the strategy was who those stakeholders were and what exactly they had added.
“We are always conscious of ensuring draft documents are concise and clear to be readable to the community.
“We will consider how best to provide this information in the future.”
Council chief executive Hamish Riach said the consultation process looked at whether to go to the community with a blank piece of paper or prepared draft as the starting point.
The council could engage with a lot more people to form any draft but “a really deep participatory approach would require significantly different resourcing”, Riach said.
Strategies and policies are generally developed with some pre-engagement to help shape the draft document and then consultation to refine it, Durham said.
“The balance is always in ensuring the right conversations, with the right people at the right time.”
The council had a "pleasing response" to its pre-engagement for next year’s LTP process, with more than 900 responses to the survey and workshops, Durham said.
That number could bode well for when the LTP draft is released for consultation next year. The 2021-31 draft LTP only received 431 submissions.
Durham said that figure was low but it reflected the work of the pre-engagement undertaken for the last LTP.
Council officers are preparing business cases and activity plans to be considered for the LTP.
“This work will continue over the next 10 months,” Durham said.
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
-
48.6% Yes
-
49.4% No
-
1.9% Other - I'll share below
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
Here's Thursday's thinker!
I am lighter than air, but a hundred people cannot lift me. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Loading…
