Induction at Auckland Council Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel...

Auckland Town Hall in the foreground where the Induction took place

Yesterday, I attended an inaugural induction for the Auckland Council's Advisory Panels and it was an interesting experience to be a part of.

The meeting took place in the Auckland Town Hall's council chambers (I think that's what it's called) and it was interesting to see structure of the council at work.

The day started with a whakatau (a brief Maori ceremonial welcome) with the speaker identifying Pasifika peoples as 'tuakana' meaning the elder in the relationship in his opening speech. With the right of reply, one member of our Pacific peoples panel replied in te reo Maori (language) and then we supported him in a Samoan pese (song). This was interesting to support.

Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff, then opened the day by discussing the various panels and the backgrounds that each panel brings to the discussions and then each panel member was asked to introduce themselves to the big group.

The panels comprise of: Disability, Rainbow, Ethnic, Elderly, Pacific, Youth and Maori have a special seat in relationship to the Treaty of Waitangi and sit outside the panels. It was also good to see the two Pasifika council members as Efeso Collins and Alf Filipaina present as well as other elected councillors who also play a direct role in supporting each panel.

It is a three year term for the panels and in that time the panels are charged with giving effective advice to the Council in terms of the 'expertise' that each panel member brings with them. The Pacific panel comprises of 8 members: there are 2 women and 6 men; 1 Tongan, 1 Tuvalu and 6 Samoan. There is also a Niuean member to come but no Cook Islands representative which is something for the panel to discuss.

I think my presence in the panel is to bring a perspective regarding Indigenous Pasifika views in line with the Treaty partnership that we have with Maori and to keenly support lines of discussion that enhance the wellbeing of all but specifically Maori and Pasifika peoples. I also have a keen interest in supporting educational initiatives as well as the arts and will be interested in the future directions that Auckland is moving towards with its future focus of a 20 - 30 year plan.

There are definitely going to be interesting times ahead, some of which I will be able to discuss in future blogs...