What do we think a community board member should actually do? Those who have listened to many of the podcasts will have already heard some themes occuring and even some loose coalitions forming; a focus on town relations contrasted with an introspective response to globalisation. What real power can five people really have? on either side.
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Because Waiheke has this
Because Waiheke has this strange relationship with Auckland it seems to me that a lot of the questions are about that and whether the Local Board will have power to do anything. Be it to take proactive steps or to defend against that vague 'stuff we don't like'.
However I feel this misses the point rather. All communities develop structures of governance. Throughout history where groups of people are living together they have modes and means to express what might be called their civic society, that collection of mores and opinions about how things should be arranged, how people work and live together, how they protect and develop their living space and environment. This is true whether the community is a gold rush town with a sherif, a German university town with a mayor and aldermen, or a commune with a council of elders.
Modern society with all its structures and institutions - contract law, resource management acts, plans, police forces, utility companies, real estate agents might give the impression that this lowest level of civic society is no longer required - that all the human interactions are taken care of. That is the implication by a structure like the new Auckland City having one representative for 80,000 people.
My belief however is that Civic society is just as important as it ever was, We still need representatives close enough to home to know the people, to know the ground and who can listen, emote and collate views. Who can give leadership, agree, disagree, consolidate, arbitrate, and guide. Who can take on ceremonial functions, who can act as highly connected nodes in complex networks of relationships.
I believe that if Waiheke had not been 'given' a local board. Then the island would have invented one anyway - called a representative forum or a civic network or some other thing - but fulfilling the same function.
So while it will be great if the new Local Board are able to take on more powers, spend more money, and play a role in representing Waiheke to the rest of the City. Their every day activities will be the same old, small decisions that reflect the character of the island, talking and listening being a hub.
I believe that all the candidates are standing because in some way they understand this whether expressed clearly or not. They have a love for this place where we live. Whether I might agree with their viewpoint or not those elected with have my respect and support. They will lose it only by acting in ways that are either self serving, or allow the interests of the few take precedence over the interests of the many.
Andrew (Vote Millie) Watkins
PS drupal seems to have forgotton my login id hence the visitor status.
Role of Community Board members
What a good question!
Some people seem to think that power comes from outside - from the Government or Auckland City, and they will give us a box of assorted 'powers' on 1st November. To me, that isn't power. At best, it is a license to act. If they don't like what we do, they will take the 'power' away.
From my experience, real power comes from within. It comes through having clear, positive visions, doing your homework, and holding onto your principles. That applies to individuals and communities alike. Then you get respect -- you have 'mana'. And that, in the end, is more important than delegated 'powers'.
So, my answer to your question is that five people, with the community behind them, can have significant power. It just depends how they act.
I liked you answer Colin.
I liked you answer Colin. Below is some of the reply I made to the group question re the Board and I think it's relevant here. As you say, real power comes from within from the integrity and honesty of our actions and standing firmly behind our principles based on intelligent and wise insight.
"The Board will need to focus on being a team and how we will function as a team. We will need to set aside any differences and look to the commom objectives that we share.
We will need to gain a firm understanding of the legislation under which we will be operating in order to understand how we can make the most of the opportunities that this new arrangement offers.
We will need to give some deep consideration to how we will establish the best democratic model to work with the citizens of Waiheke Island, how will we effectively bring in the many areas of expertise of the Waiheke public.
We will need to make sure that we gain as much delegated responsibilities and budgets as is possible and feasibly from the Auckland Council. We will need to stand firmly behind our intention and insist that local decisions be made locally.
In order to achieve the above we will need to listen deeply and understand where each of us is coming from, we will need to speak honestly and openly and trust that we share the same good intentions for the island's community in the long term. We will also need to be strong advocates with the council and Mayor's office and recreate a bottom up democracy where council policies and plans are judged by whether or not they meet our needs on the ground and if they do not then they must be changed. This is our community and community is everything.
The purpose of the board is to support the community, in its aspirations and desire for self determination, it needs to encourage and enhance the community, involve and support the talents and innovation of the community and set an example of leadership and moral behaviour among other things.
Andy Spence