Finding a balance to deliver appropriate services – to serve our district, while being mindful of people’s ability to pay their rates is important and difficult.
At the beginning of December, Council elect will come together to discuss our strategic approach for the next three years. Part of this will entail a principled debate around the role our council plays within the district. Yes, there is clear legislation around what we are to deliver. However, I and many others, believe Local Government has a far wider role. One being the role of advocacy, and being mindful of what we do and don’t support. Recognising that the decisions we make today can and do influence the now and the future. I believe that it is our role in this area - our place in encouraging social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being, ie, promoting a district of sustainable prosperity and well-being, that we can truly make some in-roads into a better tomorrow. My point has always been that councils have no invested interest other than the well-being of the district. And thus they are well placed to advocate on behalf of the people they serve. And I believe the people desire this – more and more so. They look to their leaders to have a position on things that are important to them – health, safety, education, environmental activity, etc. They expect their leaders to be able to stand up and fight the good fight for the betterment of our people and our place. So, one of the questions is, how do we keep things affordable and still manage to encourage the right type of development? How do we service one of the biggest districts with a relatively small population and be fair and equitable? It will be an interesting discussion and unlikely to be solved on the day – however, it will set some clear frameworks for moving forward and provide a great opportunity to develop some clarity around the role we wish to undertake, in serving this fabulous place. My message will be that we must journey together as a district. Wisely and with integrity. Work alongside each other, share our knowledge, lift each other up…play to our strengths. It is through unity, respect and a smart approach that the Far North will be it’s potential. Keen to hear people’s thoughts.
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Talking to a young man, a cadet I was mentoring from this area, he once shared with me that they grew up washing and getting water from the nearby stream. His comment was ‘I didn’t know I was poor – I had a great upbringing’. He now has his own young family and is doing very well for himself. My first observation - is what is it we are actually talking about today? Is it tackling poverty – and all the definitions that currently come with this – or are we tackling the loss of hope, the lack of aspirations, the sense of not belonging, feeling no sense of value... that many of our people carry? When we talk about poverty – I believe it is so much more than a material…physical ‘thing’. It is addressing the poverty of the ‘soul’ that I believe truly lies at the core of the issue. There are many examples of young people that have grown up in an environment of not having much in the way of material things, but have had great wealth in the fact that they have been loved and encouraged. And although they may go without some ‘things’ they have experienced a rich environment in a real world. I would add that these upbringings often build our resilience, our adaptability, our gratitude and our character. And it is this that often makes for a well balanced and productive member of society – a person that recognises self responsibility and the meaning of contribution. So, my first challenge is to be mindful of the labels that we put on people. Society currently has a habit of wanting to put people in boxes. Oh she’s this, he’s that, what do you expect, look how they grew up….we live in a time of filling in forms, ticking boxes and meeting the criteria to assistance. When we put negative labels on our children and this becomes hard-wired – by the age of seven I understand, we are almost setting them up for a life of whatever that label may be….and it can become bloody difficult to remove. So as government organisations, I believe we need to be more mindful of our vocabulary and the words we use. I recognise that there is ‘criteria’ and outcomes to meet, however, we are dealing with people and communities, and their uniqueness needs to be respected. My second observation – the context in which government works in this arena - whether it be local or central (noting that central government works more in this social field) – is that our role, at the end of the day should be to serve and support our communities, our districts, our regions, our country. If we hold this at the core of what we do, then it changes our approach, our way of working with communities. It recognises that communities generally know what’s best for them and clearly goes against an often one size fits all policy or approach. It’s not to say this is done without ‘goodwill’ but my experience is it is often done as a sticking plaster rather than having a holistic approach…Change can take time – particularly if we are trying to address ingrained beliefs. So, my second challenge is how do we truly empower (and trust) our communities to take charge. How do we break down this current thinking of ‘doing it to us’ rather than ‘doing it with us’? From a community perspective, I believe it starts with self responsibility and then builds to community responsibility. We need our community leaders to step up and we need to have the hard, the brave conversations. There have been a lot of wrongs. There is a lot of anger, disappointment, loss and despair– it goes back centuries. I believe that until we address this, acknowledge that it is done – seek forgiveness and are able to heal and let go – to move on, we will continue to find ourselves in this cycle. We also need to be mindful of the motivators and ensure the hard yards are undertaken to set activities up for success. There are plenty of examples where ‘programmes’ have fallen short under community leadership. And there are often many reasons for this. However, things like ‘patch protection’, large egos and lack of collaboration should not be one of the reasons. So, together, if government works alongside, in partnership, with our community leaders, support them with the tools, the resources, help enable them to make the stand, in their own way and their own time I think we will see inroads. The Far North District Council in 2015 adopted the district vision – He Whenua Rangatira – A district of sustainable prosperity and well-being. It is supported by six key values, including Family, community, connecting caring and nine key expectations for 2050 – including a great place for our families to flourish and happy, healthy, safe and purposeful people. This vision was developed from the ground up, facilitated by council. Over 2,000 people of the Far North contributed, from prisoners, to students to retired, to commercial operators. One of the key aims is to articulate and celebrate our values as a district, strengthening our journey of who we are and where we want to go. To achieve this vision we must come together. Central government, local government, Iwi, Hapu, commercial, private, communities – we all have a role to play. If we are to change our story - we must recognise that we are all in this together and that we have the power, collectively, to make a real difference now and into the future. It starts with self, it starts with recognising our value, it starts with raising each other up, celebrating our diversity and not pulling each other down. It starts with community and remembering what we are actually capable of. That all parts make the whole – warts and all. I will finish with another story…it’s a story about fleas… A scientist took a group of fleas and placed them in a container. He then placed a glass lid over the container. As we all know, fleas are capable of jumping very high compared to their body size (18cm high). At first the fleas hit the glass ceiling. Over time they become conditioned and only jumped as high as the glass ceiling. When the fleas were released they never again jumped as high as they were capable of. The story goes that their offspring also never learnt to jump to their full capacity… So humans aren’t fleas…the moral of the story of course, is in today’s society how many glass ceilings are place over us individually…collectively… So tackling poverty…lets continue to break glass ceilings. The above presentation was delivered at the Tackling Poverty NZ Kaikohe workshop - 15.9.2016. It will form part of a National discussion. http://tacklingpovertynz.org/ ‘Resilience is the new sustainability’ as spoken at the recent Local Government NZ Annual Conference. My ears pricked up. I hear the word sustainability a lot. I use the word regularly. It is a key word in our district vision. It is often quoted and often misunderstood. And now it’s being teamed with resilience. Hmmm - interesting. So, I did a bit of googling…
One article states that sustainability simply means to endure – makes sense to me, although this does not define whether it’s appropriate or not. Take plastic for example – hate to use plastic and sustainable in the same sentence. I like this definition – ‘Sustainability is the ability to continue a defined behaviour indefinitely’. Now resilience is the capacity of a system to survive, adapt, and grow in the face of unforeseen changes, even catastrophic incidents. (http://resilience.osu.edu/CFR-site/concepts.htm). In simple terms, I guess the cockroach is the perfect example here. Michael Kramer states ‘resiliency offers a guiding principle that can shape our thinking, our planning and our actions in ways that keep us flexible and responsive to whatever changes may come. Resilience includes: anticipating and preparing for disturbance, improving our capacity to withstand shocks, rebuilding as necessary and adapting and evolving when possible.’ Now, bringing the terms ‘defined behaviour indefinitely’ and ‘flexible and responsive…anticipating and preparing for’ together, you start to get a sense of something rather exciting. Not only are we talking about sustainable behaviour or activity that has long term positive outcomes for our planet (and all that live upon it), we are also talking about preparing in a way that is proactively responsive to whatever the future may hold. It’s about risk management, whether it be a building design, community development, the learning environment for an unknown future, growth management, etc. It’s noted that both words relate to human activity. It’s fair to say that the earth would be quite fine without us. History suggests that we have never been very good at forward planning, particularly inter-generationally, although there are certainly some cultures that are very mindful of this. One of our ongoing challenges will be to raise the discussion to a level high enough for people to appreciate that if we truly want a better tomorrow then we need to change the way we deal with today. So, fair to say I might be a convert. Bringing resilience and sustainability together seems to offer the opportunity to develop robust planning and activity that might actually make a real difference for now and future generations, particularly if planning, development and investment are aligned to be more mindful of the big picture and the world before us. It’s certainly food for thought eh? I am very pleased to confirm that the Far North District Council adopted the Our Voices - Our Vision high level framework yesterday. Below are the agreed statements. The beginning of a new journey :)
He waka eke noa - The Statement of Kaupapa and Purpose • This is a fresh approach to planning the Far North’s future • It is an inclusive kaupapa with a role for everyone • It will enable all organisations and groups in the Far North to align their efforts with the aspirations expressed in Our Voices - Our Vision • This approach requires courage, determination and resilience The Purpose of Our Voices - Our Vision is to create • A better future for the Far North • A clear statement of what is important to us • A platform for better decision-making and action • Momentum for change The Vision He Whenua Rangatira - A District of sustainable prosperity and well-being Tikanga - Our Values Manawatopu - Unity of purpose and working together Whanaungatanga - Family, community, connecting and caring Tu tangata - Strong cultural identities Rangatiratanga - Empowerment, self-determination and self-reliance Mana tangata - Respect and fairness Te Tiriti o Waitangi - Partnership Kaitiakitanga - Environmental stewardship and sustainability Tumanako - Our Expectations He wahi ataahua - Valuing the outstanding beauty of our District Oranga taiao, oranga tangata - Nurturing the environment so it nourishes us Oranga kainga - A thriving, sustainable local economy Mana I te whenua - The role of tangata whenua is valued and respected Te ira tangata Rich heritage and diversity respected and celebrated Whanau - A great place for our families to flourish Tangata whai ora - Happy, healthy, safe and purposeful people He waka hourua - Fit for purpose infrastructure underpinning success Kokiri tahi - Empowered communities, working collaboratively. For all the right reasons, New Zealand is starting to take notice of a small community in the Far North. In a district often associated with negative statistics and on the back of a bi-election wrought with what’s not working in Northland, Paihia is leading the charge and bucking trends.
It is demonstrating what can be achieved when a bunch of passionate, creative and inspired people take charge of their destiny. And it’s hoping to inspire other communities to give it a go. Paihia, with a resident population of around 1,700 has, for the second time within a month, received significant national recognition. In February it was named the 2015 Mitre 10 Community of the Year (part of the New Zealander of the Year Awards) and just last weekend, it was named Trustpower’s 2014 Community Awards Supreme winner. A huge achievement. So, what has made this community stand out? And why is this important for other New Zealand communities? Simply put – Paihia stopped waiting for someone else to fix their problems. It took responsibility and put words into action. Talking with Trustees of Focus Paihia Community Charitable Trust (FPCCT) they will tell you it’s all about having a common goal, building community spirit and getting your hands dirty. FPCCT got underway in 2009, when a couple of people decided it was time to stop moaning about the state of the town and do something about it. The concept quickly gained local support and Focus Paihia was born. The community developed their own vision of where they wanted to be within the first five months. About a year later they launched the Paihia Masterplan, an aspirational future concept design for the village. Not long after this, FPCCT was introduced to the concept of ‘placemaking’. Project for Public Spaces describes this as a ‘quiet movement that reimagines public spaces as the heart of every community. A transformative approach that inspires people to create and improve their public places’. The Trust now had a vehicle for making things happen. And things did happen, with great gusto and impressive outcomes. The first project was the renovation over one weekend of an underused and unattractive public space next to the local i-Site. With just $5k, provided by the local community board, the area was transformed by over 100 volunteers. This first project provided impetus to move onto the next. Within the last three years the ‘ugliest toilet in NZ’ has been renovated into a well photographed public commodity (for just $13.5k), a swimming pontoon has been launched, a mural painted, a village green over-hauled, public seating added, an Op Shop opened and the list goes on. All achieved by volunteers, who were feed and watered by more volunteers – sometimes for months on end. The biggest and most controversial project to date has been the removal of a well used public carpark. From the word go, the community had clearly indicated that they wanted a people friendly waterfront. With very limited public space in the CBD, it was decided that the waterfront carpark had to go. Not everyone was happy about it and the Trust ended up in Council fighting for the right to remove it. The Trust had recognised that for things to really change within the village – both physically and in perception, something substantial had to happen. If the community could pull it off, the transformation would showcase what can be achieved and encourage future proactive development. Over 250 volunteers spent over 9,000 hours transforming this space. Estimated to be worth around $1.3m commercially, the park was built for $180k. With around 90% of the funding being provided by FPCCT, through their sustainable funding sources. The outcome is more than anyone had hoped. And many of those opposed have been won over by the success of the space and have got involved with other projects. It was the creation the park that saw the Trust win the Trustpower Supreme Community Award. And it has forever changed the way this community looks and feels. Once a departure point, Paihia now has a heart and is a destination in its own right. The park, on the waters edge, now provides a place for people to meet, mix, mingle, sit back and relax. The common theme however, is that the villages transformation is a by-product of what happens when a community unites and works together for the greater good. It is fair to say that for many years Paihia was seen as disconnected, with polar opinions and no clarity about who it was. Once described as a good example of a town with no planning, it was a mixed jigsaw, with a tired look and feel. Today there is a buzz in the air. A feeling of hope and optimism. The creation of the projects has created a strong sense of community pride and comradery. Lasting friendships have been formed, alliances achieved and credibility built. What is also impressive and somewhat unusual is the Trust is becoming self sustaining and isn’t having to rely on outside funders to get a lot of things done. Smart business decisions and good management has seen the Trust in a strong financial position to move forward. It has been a win-win relationship for the Far North District Council. In a time when unitary authorities are being discussed and many councils across New Zealand are struggling to meet basic demands, let alone develop the nice to have projects, it is refreshing to see a community stand up and take the lead. And FNDC has been behind them all the way. With Local Government in the business of serving its communities, it is recognised that it is much easier to work with and support groups that have a cohesive approach and are clear about who they are and where they want to go. This Council is incredibly proud of what Paihia has achieved, believing that the town is showcasing how fantastic the Far North is, and the people within it. It believes that Paihia is in the process of reinventing itself, achieving amazing results on a shoe string budget. It is a template and inspiration for other communities. And on this note, FPCCT are now looking to develop a toolkit to share and encourage other communities to take charge. It believes that if more people take responsibility and develop a bond and community spirit from the ground up, New Zealand will be in a much stronger, more resilient position to face whatever the future holds. In a time when many people feel disconnected from their community – Paihia is developing a roadmap that combines community aspiration with community spirit – something that we could probably all do with a little more of. On the project front, there is plenty more yet to come. The Trust recognises that there is still a way to go and is looking at a review of their strategic direction – all with community input of course. Along the way, a world class mountain bike park is to be built and with a community workshop on the horizon who knows what might pop up over the winter – anyone want to build a taniwha? Following is my speech celebrating International Women's Day.
"When we unleash the power of women, we can secure the future for all," says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message for International Women’s Day 2015. This year, International Women’s Day, which is celebrated globally will highlight the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap signed by 189 governments in 1995 - 20 years ago - that sets the agenda for realising women’s rights. This is the time to uphold women’s achievements, recognize challenges, and focus greater attention on women’s rights and gender equality to mobilize all people to do their part. The Beijing Platform envisions a world where each woman and girl can exercise her choices, such as participating in politics, getting an education, having an income, and living in societies free from violence and discrimination. (taken from the UN Women website) So, I want start by saying how blessed I feel to have been born and raised in Aotearoa. Although we as a country do have many challenges on a number of levels, I am eternally grateful that I have not bore the hardship of being female in a country where women as a whole can be treated with such disrespect and at times abhorrently...it is often beyond belief but sadly very real Today, the title of my speech is 'equality for women is progress for all.' Although in full agreement, I must say that I struggled somewhat with my preparation as I had being unsure how to address such a topic without being disrespectful to men in general, who I very much value. I do however recognise that for this world to be truly prosperous and healthy we must find balance – which is currently lacking. And not just between the sexes. For our mother earth to flourish and as an off shoot - continue to sustain us - we, as human beings, must urgently look to return balance to our planet. A topic for another day :) So, finding balance between the sexes...this to me means recognising and respecting what the opposites bring to make the whole. Whether it be masculine and feminine, night and day, hot and cold – the strength in these is that one can not be without the other – I mean how would we appreciate a hot shower if we had never had a cold one? We would all cook...quite quickly...should the sun never set And as women I know we all recognise the importance of the moon, her changing face and the impacts this brings upon our systems – both naturally and manufactured. I think the sooner this is more widely acknowledged the better. It is quite clearly recognised that in business women and men bring quite different approaches to the table – and that this can produce some very well balanced and effective decision making. I certainly see that around the council table. Having or gaining more power is generally not a key motivator for women. We tend to be more inspired by the feeling of achievement, making a difference and being valued or adding valve. As many of us can appreciate, if women were tasked with the decision of going to war – there would be a lot less of them – as it is not within our natural framework to put our children in danger. And I know there are always exceptions to the rule.... Which brings me to the point, that we need to start challenging the western approach that for women to be successful in business, we don't need to act (or dress) like a man to be taken seriously. We need to celebrate this diversity between the sexes rather than trying to control and manipulate it to ones own end. As a people this is where our strength will come from. Our unity and our healing. And we do live in a time where we need to heal. Individually and collectively. We need to learn to forgive and make peace. We must be brave and expect better, want for more, fly the flag for freedom, respect, grace and prosperity. And it all starts with us – you and me... Women, I believe, play a significant role in bringing about this change. Although often the physically weaker sex – we are strong of heart, carry great wisdom (I believe) and can endure and grow from many trials and tribulations. We are renown for balancing hectic lifestyles and having exceptional organisational skills ;) And, I believe, we inherently know what is right – we just don't always have the self belief that can be required to make the change. So this is what I would now like to focus on – encouraging us, as women, to believe that we can be all that we want to be and often a lot more – I do find that humans in general underestimate just what we are capable of. And I am a very good example. I'm not going into my journey to date today...but lets just say that being in local politics, let alone the deputy mayor was not on my 'will achieve' list and yet here I am. I am learning to never say never. I am also a firm believer that we all have a very special purpose and that is to be the best that we can be and thus we must push ourselves onwards and upwards. Which is often much easier said than done. Why? I think I will call it conditioning – society norms or the beliefs that we learn as children which we can carry with us for a life time - if we are not brave enough to challenge them and then make the change. Now – some of these beliefs are good...very good, some are unhelpful and others can be down right destructive. I just want to note, that society beliefs are different all over the place, rural...urban, one culture...another culture, etc So, let's briefly have a look at maybe an outdated belief – one that I have personal experience in and its a bit of a tough one. Growing up to believe that having children comes naturally and that all women should be mothers. Well, actually that's two but closely tied – because if you can't achieve the first then you may not achieve the second. So growing up with this belief – which you don't even realise is a belief - it just is...it's comes as a bit of a shock (to say the least) that this is not actually the case... So, one goes through a bit of a rocky journey – because having something that is so ingrained in you, so part of you, so desired by you - having that taken away from you – can 'feel' a bit soul destroying. Turns out, well for me, its not – soul destroying that is. In fact, I found my inner strength (which was always there) and I became much wiser and less judgemental because of this part of my journey. Once again not going into detail today, after my last round of IVF I spend two years healing and growing to very much enjoy my freedom and the opportunities it brought. To understand that life can be very rewarding and that its quite alright not to have children – in fact it gives you a great appreciation as to why some women choose not to. However, in my case life had another big surprise... in its very magical way … and I was gifted with a daughter, who I am eternally grateful for and teaches me every day. So, when we as women look for equality, which we most certainly deserve and should have – as its quite natural and normal, we have to believe...deep down... that we are actually entitled to it – and that this can go against some well ingrained belief systems – whether we realise it or not (and this goes for men as well). I believe and have experienced that often what we are taught and what actually ‘is’ vary greatly. One can be set in fear (not always intentionally) teaching people to behave in a certain way – a form of control. The other is set in self acceptance and trusting in what’s right for one’s own journey. That’s right, one’s own journey. It’s not about the masses or about what someone else thinks. It’s about learning to recognise and trust in one’s own intuition, ones own journey. It's about finding that quiet place inside – where peace remains supreme. I have found that making decisions from this place has never put me wrong...I will note that it can often be quite hard to find this space sometimes with all the hub bub that goes on in my head and around me... Yes our journeys inter-weave with each other – all the time, but your journey and my journey are not the same and should not be compared. This is certainly not suggesting that I should get own with my own life – damn the rest of you :) Quite the opposite... For me to be truly authentic, to be all that I can be – should bring me to a place of compassion and empathy. Recognition that although I am an individual I am part of the whole. For me to truly succeed, I need to be in a space of success, which means my wider community, district, etc is also succeeding or prosperous. And not many things give me more joy than seeing people I work or interact with grow and overcome obstacles, finding moments of happiness on the way, as they journey along their path to be all that they can be...and should be. To inspire, encourage and or uplift another individual is quite something. And it's not because you actually did anything other than believe in them. Its because they did it for themselves – they found a happy place - and they in turn carry on to inspire others – its has a wonderful ripple effect. Just a wee note here that we have to be very careful not to underestimate our influence (both good and bad). You don't have to be famous or rich to inspire others – simple acts....doing the right thing by you, being brave, over coming challenges, living a full life, whatever it may look like can be quite inspiring for those that have not yet found their place. I would now like to briefly touch on two things. One: the need to support our young women and help instil in them the right belief systems so that they are encouraged to make vibrant decisions that will help them truly prosper. That they don't need to be a size eight, have long flowing hair and a buff boyfriend to have a wonderful life. That they are all specifically and specially created perfect as we are. That they are valued and have something very important to do with our lives – and that is to be the amazing person that they are – right now (you may also want to point out that life gets very boring when everything is the same...) The second point... as women we need to start being a bit nicer to each other. Just like we need to inspire our young women we need to inspire each other. Women (generalising here) are quite renown for being catty and nasty...something I personally experienced at high school and one of the reasons I probably tend to hang out more with men now... This behaviour comes from a place of low self esteem. If we want equality, then we need to stand together united and encourage each other – not compare or pull down. We need to stand by each other, compliment, uplift. Just saying hello to a stranger can make someone's day. And I don't think a little bit of envy does any harm as desire is often a great motivator (just don't let it turn to jealousy – very destructive)... For many of us, challenging our belief systems will take courage... it will require us to step outside of our comfort zone...(I encourage it – its quite liberating) I recently read a quote on Facebook saying “life begins at the end of your comfort zone” Courage is a fine line between hope, knowing and respect for one’s self. It’s going to take courage and hope and faith to be all you can be. Life does offer great abundance. And love will provide the strength to show you the way. Having this hope will help you confidently take the next step and in achieving that step you will want to take another...and another... A wee poem... Life is a lesson in self It is an opportunity to seek and learn To live and grow It is your life, no others So do not burden yourself with the cares and worries of others Live your life in integrity, faith and knowing Stand tall and be counted in your own right No blame, no wrong Love your life. So, I firmly believe in the power of unleashing women's potential – that will scare a few men lol. I firmly believe that we have some way to go to achieve balance and that it will take a change of mindset by both men and women. I firmly believe that we need to do this - our world depends on it. Equality or balance is the right thing – the only thing that will bring true prosperity to human kind. I have recently been reminded of the saying that if you tell a child it is useless all its young life its grows up believing this is so and generally acts accordingly.
Whereas, if you believe in, encourage and support a child to be all they can be, they generally grow up to be well balanced, prosperous individuals and strong members of our community. It seems that when we hit national media we hear about our high unemployment, social challenges, crime incidents...the negative list goes on. An often narrow view of who we really are. Recognising that we certainly have some challenges (who doesn't) - what we need to ask ourselves is this what we want to be known for? Is this who we are? We need to change our story. And it is up to us to do so. Practice what we preach, face our challenges head on, challenge past thinking, show ourselves what we are more than capable of being. We need to continue to provide hope for our young people, encourage them to aspire to new heights – once thought impossible. To do this we must all recognise the value in us, the essence of who we are. All of us has a role to play in changing our story. Many are already doing so and there are numerous examples of success. So, next time you hear a negative story – challenge it with a positive one. Change our story. On finishing another story. Fleas are able to jump at least 100 times their height. An experiment was undertaken in which fleas were placed in a jar with a glass lid. Initially the fleas were able to jump out of the jar. After the lid had been sealed for some time, the fleas learnt to only jump as high as the glass lid would allow. On removal from the jar, they were never able to jump any higher. It has also been said that these fleas offspring never learnt to jump any higher than their parents. What glass lids have we placed on our people? I say it's time to start breaking them. 2015 stands before us. This provides a real opportunity to see things afresh. To take a deep breath and look out over the horizon and to be encouraged. As our districts and our regional possibilities are rich, our people are strong and our land is still lush.
Whatever has happened in the past can not be changed. It is what it is. We should seek its wisdom and we must look to heal. But we should not dwell in the past as this will only hinder the blossoming of the year ahead. To move our districts and region forward we need to be truly brave. And this will mean that we will need to step outside our comfort zone – to perhaps look towards uncharted waters to address some of the challenges we face. What we must seek to do, as all leaders must, is to unite and encourage – to provide hope. To listen, to serve and to make decisions that seek to grow and protect our homeland in the most appropriate way possible. For the decisions we make today – will form ripples that will continue to flow in centuries to come. One of our key challenges, I believe, as elected officials is to find common ground and seek to make decisions, in partnership with our communities, that will truly bring unity and prosperity while ensuring we look after the very place we call home. Our role as district and regional representatives is to serve our communities at a governance level. We are not in charge of operations. We are the big picture people – responsible for strategic direction. It is not to see the forest for the trees, but to rise above and be the kererū above the forest. To see the big picture and thus (hopefully) make wise decisions to protect and grow this wonderful place. I am very proud and committed in leading the development of a 'One Voice – One Vision' strategic framework for the Far North. And our Council is 100% behind it, as we all acknowledge the importance of knowing who we are and where we are going. If we are not united for the betterment of our people and our place – how can we expect to build trust; to gain confidence; to truly lead change? And don't be mistaken – if we are to flourish we, as a whole, will need to change our approach. We are here to serve the people – not each other or ourselves. We have a lot to do and we won't achieve it if we don't work together, alongside our communities. This is not to say that we are performing badly. It is rather encouragement to take the next step up – as we do have challenges to face. Our people – our place deserve the very best and we have a role in helping encourage this. I ask you to consider what it is that you hope to have achieved at the end of this year. Let it be dynamic, let it be positive, let it be big. I acknowledge that this may read as idealistic, as we are all human after all. However, I believe in us and I know that every human being has the ability to do the right thing by themselves and by their fellow man. Let's lead the charge! With respect. |
AuthorTania McInnes. Archives
January 2024
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