Featured here is a pic of the certificate that each panel member received as signed by the current Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff and he also gave them out to each of us at the ceremony.
The neat thing was that over this last 3 year period our panel was lead by two committed and amazing leaders: our chairperson, Leaupepe Ralph Elika with Ligi (Caroline) Harris as vice-chair and we were able to learn about and have input into various Auckland Council initiatives from a Pasifika perspective and often advocating (although I'm told that it's not really our job) or voicing concerns on issues that affect our Pasifika peoples.
In the next couple of weeks, we'll be voting on who will be Auckland's Mayor, Councillors, DHB District Health Boards and local Board members etc. These are paid positions for three years and each person elected has a responsibility to represent their elected members and they may also have political affiliations with current political parties i.e. Labour, National, the Greens etc.
That's why it's really important for us to be informed or at the very least to exercise our right to vote for those people who you believe will represent you fairly at these upcoming local elections. By not voting we are allowing those who do to choose who will be our representatives in these important influential spaces.
Already I've already made up my mind to vote for Pasifika representation (and Samoan at best) with the two Autagavaia brothers (Apulu Reece and his brother Taufagaafa Dr Vaaiga ) on the DHB and our two current Samoan Councillors, Faanana Efeso Collins and Alf Filipaina as well as Lemauga Lydia Sosene and others from my local board (some of whom I'm officially related too as well).
And at the end of the day, although few Pasifika people actually choose to exercise their right to vote, the votes are still counted and those who receive the most votes get into these decision making and influential spaces that do have a bearing on Pasifika people issues whether we vote or not...
No comments:
Post a Comment