Research
As someone who has dedicated the last seven years of their life to research, I am perhaps a little biased when it comes to this matter. Nonetheless, I fail to see how any decision can be made effectively without being informed to some degree by empirical evidence. The vocal minority has historically dominated local government, those with the time and energy to make their concerns heard. This model of civic engagement, however, is severely outdated. We can no longer expect people to offer their perspectives on their own volition. That is lazy governance. As a democratic body representing the entire Waitematā population, the local board must make a concerted effort to hear from as many voices as possible on as many matters as possible. While this takes time and money, when we talk about 'basics', understanding the needs and interests of residents arguably is as basic as you can get. What good is any other 'basic' function of local government if it is not in the best interests of residents?
I am proposing that the board develop a system whereby it can collect both qualitative (from interviews and focus groups) and quantitative (from surveys and polls) data on an annual basis. This research would seek to understand, among other topics, the burdens residents face, what they like about Waitematā, and what they want to see changed. Without having this data readily on hand, any decision the local board makes could at best be summarised as hopeful suppositions. To put this into perspective, according to the 2024 Auckland Quality of Life Survey, only a third of Aucklander's believed the public has influence over council’s decisions (1). If we are to address this, it begins with proactively seeking out public opinion.